A Beacon of Light

“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.”  Thomas à Kempis While walking in the Sunset District of San Francisco yesterday, I saw one of those “little library” boxes on a post in front of someone’s home. I noticed…

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”  Saint Thomas Aquinas Elementary school friends. We have so many of them during our early childhood years. We run and play together. We accept each other without judgment. We grow together day after day and year after year without even noticing that…

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”  Arthur Ashe “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,…” These immortal words written by Charles Dickens accurately describe my experience as an…

“Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your kids.”  Tony Campolo A barbecue on the first Saturday in February? Why not? Despite the cool air and dark sky, it was an opportunity for us to gather our family together before the big storm arrives. Another one of those “atmospheric rivers” is headed our way and…

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude.”  Thich Nhat Hanh I think I might project the image to some people of a guy who has his shit together. The truth of the matter is this: sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. For the most part, I want to believe that, much like…

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”  Meister Eckhart Life is a constant process of starting over. We finish elementary school and begin high school. We graduate from high school and launch the journey into our college years. We earn a bachelor’s degree and either continue on for a master’s degree or enter…

Better than anyone else, I know myself. At this time in my life, I’ve come to a point where I acknowledge and appreciate the gifts I’ve been given — the things I do well and the things I enjoy doing. Through the years, I have also learned that I am not perfect. I am flawed.…

“The homily is not meant to be an endurance contest (or a hostage situation).”  Comment on Social Media I once heard it said, “You cannot be a passive lamb in the flock of Christ and expect to grow.” There is great truth in this statement. Sadly, it seems that little is expected (“pay, pray, and…

“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”  Steven Wright My home is located in the Santa Clara Valley, in what was once affectionately known as The Valley of Heart’s Delight. The nickname changed following the invention of the microchip. In response to the technology boom of the past fifty years, this once fertile…

“Let’s face it. Friends make life a lot more fun.”  Charles R. Swindoll There’s something to be said for a group of friends who gather around a table, enjoy a delicious meal together, and share stories and memories from their past. For several years now, a number of my classmates from the Saint Gabriel School…