A Beacon of Light

“Life doesn’t come with an instruction book.That’s why we have fathers.” H. Jackson Browne My Dad enjoyed the game of golf. He occasionally watched television coverage of professional tournaments on Sunday afternoons. He spoke highly of his golf heroes, which included the legendary Ben Hogan, as well as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ken Venturi, Al…

“I write to discover what I know.”Flannery O’Connor As much as I would like to do so, I cannot, in good conscience, refer to myself as a bestselling author. Yes, I’ve published three books. This is an accomplishment in which I take great satisfaction. More than twenty years ago, I identified “Writing & Publishing a…

“You will find yourself in spacesno one thought you would be in,including you.When you get there,and you will get there,trust that you belong there.” Nakeia Homer Throughout my life, there have been many times when I questioned the validity of who I was and what I was doing. I honestly believed that if people actually…

“Sharing tales of those we’ve lostis how we keep fromreally losing them.” Mitch Albom In reference to my mother’s passing last August, a good friend asked me the other day, “How are you doing?” I’m grateful to say that my response was brief, but honest: “I’m doin’ okay!” For most people, the death of a…

I began my formal education when my parents enrolled me in Tiny Tots at South Sunset Playground in the fall of 1958. Mrs. Virginia Bartleson was my teacher. Having successfully completed the rigorous requirements for graduation, I moved on to kindergarten at Ulloa Annex (38th & Ulloa) the following year. There were two kindergarten teachers…

Thomas Merton’s quote is more than just an invitation. It is a challenge to all of us to do exactly what the Gospel message calls us to do. It’s not always easy.

“Be kind whenever possible.It is always possible.” Dalai Lama For sixteen years (2006-2022), I blogged regularly on the importance of gratitude in one’s life. In 2017, I published my first book on the same topic. During these years, I became increasingly aware that there is a related topic of equal, perhaps even greater importance: Kindness.…

I graduated from high school in June 1972. In late August, I moved into the student dormitory at Bellarmine College Prep in San José. No, I didn’t have to repeat my senior year of high school, although that might not have been a bad idea. About a dozen college students, mostly juniors and seniors, were…

It was the summer of 1958. I was four years old at the time. My brother, Tom, was eight, my sister, Cathy, was seven, and my younger sister, Peggy, would celebrate her first birthday a few months later. Our parents took us on a family vacation to Monte Rio, California, along the Russian River. We…

Having completed my Master’s degree in June 1984, I began what turned out to be a 31-year stint in pastoral ministry and education at St. Lawrence Parish and Academy in Santa Clara. I began that work in August with a fair amount of experience for a 30-year old. Previously, I’d worked as a prefect in…