A Beacon of Light

Home

  • My name is Kevin Carroll. I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, where I attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. I am a graduate of both Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco. Following a 40-year career in teaching and pastoral ministry, I launched a new career as a writer and speaker.

    I live in San José, California. My wife, Kathy, and I have three adult sons and five precious grandchildren. I have much for which to be grateful.

    I can be reached via email at kmc43sjc@gmail.com

    My books are available for purchase online from Amazon. I also have copies of some of these titles at my home for those who would like to buy them directly from me.

    A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude  (2017)

    Cherries in the Summer  (2021)

    The Ambassador of 38th Avenue  (2022)

    Dad: 12 Questions…  (2023)

    A Focus on Gratitude  (2024)

    Through the Lens of Gratitude  (2024)

    A Bahamian Odyssey (2026)

  • Prayer

    “I have been  
    driven many times
    upon my knees  
    by the overwhelming  
    conviction that I had  
    nowhere else to go.”  
    Abraham Lincoln

    Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker who, with the assistance of her family, saved nearly 800 Jewish people from the Holocaust by hiding them in a secret room in the family home during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. She is remembered for her extraordinary heroism, unrelenting faith, and radical forgiveness. When the Nazis learned of her activities, she and her family were sent to the Revensbrück concentration camp. By the grace of God, she survived the experience, but her family did not. After the war, Corrie forgave even the most cruel of her enemies, including the former guards who had murdered her family. Her story is shared in her autobiography, The Hiding Place.

    One particular quote for which Corrie is remembered speaks of our approach to prayer. She asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” The metaphor challenges us to take a look at our communication with God. Do we utilize prayer as a daily guide, directing our choices, keeping us on track, and leading our life? Or do we turn to prayer only when we are in trouble or facing a crisis?

    Just as it is necessary to hold the steering wheel the entire time we are driving our car, we are invited and encouraged to maintain a daily, constant conversation with God. In the same way, treating prayer as a spare tire means that we reach out to God only when we are experiencing some type of emergency we cannot handle on our own.

    As I reflect back on my life, there were many years when I used prayer as a spare tire. I may have attended Sunday Mass on a regular basis, but I can’t say with confidence that it was always a prayerful experience. As for personal prayer, I’ll admit that in many cases, such prayer was precipitated by some type of crisis. Things have been considerably different for me in the past twenty years.

    When I began to focus on gratitude at the end of 2006, prayer became my steering wheel. I begin and end every day with prayers of gratitude. I find myself praying intermittently throughout the day. My prayers may not be the traditional prayers of the Church I learned in elementary school, but I am confident that I have maintained ongoing communication with God for many years now, mostly on the theme of gratefulness.

    While taking another mental health walk in San Francisco on Wednesday, I found myself unexpectedly drawn to Saint Ignatius Church on the campus of the University of San Francisco. I entered the empty worship space and sat in one of the many pews. I don’t remember using words to pray. I just sat there… for about an hour. Before too long, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

    Life definitely has a way of driving us to our knees at times. When I experience such a situation, as we all do from time to time, I’m grateful that I don’t have to reintroduce myself to God. And when I encounter a period of crisis in my life, I ask myself the Ignatian question: Where is God in this? The answer may not be immediately evident to me, but eventually I will come to realize that, even in times of difficulty, God does not abandon me.

  • June

    “Everything good, 
    everything magical 
    happens between 
    the months of 
    June and August.” 
    Jenny Han

    Well,… I’m not sure I fully agree with author Jenny Han’s assessment of the significance of the summer months, but I will concur that this time of year is an amazing season with unlimited potential for good. Technically, the official start to summer will be on Sunday, June 21st. For me, however, summer has always been June 1st through Labor Day weekend in September. Throughout the years, this has been a special time of year for me.

    June is a month for celebrations. My birthday, Kathy’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary are all in June. My granddaughter, Penelope, celebrates her birthday on June 21st. And, of course, Father’s Day is on the June calendar. In addition to Kathy, several of her siblings were born in June — John, Tom, and Clare. And through the years, countless graduations, weddings, and baptisms have also taken place in the first month of summer. 

    Summer weather arrived right on time this year. Here in the Santa Clara Valley, daytime highs for this first week of June will range from the upper 70s to low 80s. I couldn’t ask for a better forecast.

    Kathy and I have a couple of trips planned for the summer. We’re not embarking on any cruises this year. The trips we’ve planned will keep us in California. We’ll spend one week doing the tourist thing in San Francisco and one week visiting Kathy’s brother, John, in Eureka. Those of us fortunate enough to live in California have little need to leave the state to enjoy the wonders of nature. We can enjoy beaches, mountains, lakes, rivers, redwood forests, open meadows, national parks, and so much more right here in our home state.

    June through August is also the heart of baseball season. After years of futility, the Giants enjoyed amazing success in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 seasons. Their home stadium, Oracle Park, is a perfect venue for watching America’s game. Even when the Giants are struggling, a day at the ballpark is always a treat. I’m sure Kathy and I will get to a few games this year.

    So as we begin June 2026, I do so with both positivity and gratitude. We never know what joys or sorrows we will experience in any given time span, but I’m grateful to be starting this season with high expectations for a memorable summer.

     

  • Sunday, May 31

    “Serenity is not
    freedom from
    the storm,
    but peace amid
    the storm.”
    S.A. Jefferson-Wright

  • Living the Dream

    “Do what matters 
    most to you, and 
    make a difference 
    doing that.”
    Germany Kent

    When I was offered the opportunity to spend a year teaching in a high school in The Bahamas back in 1974, my father thought it would be a big mistake for me to accept the offer. I had completed only two years of college at the time. I think he feared that I might never go back to finish my undergraduate degree. For some reason, he kept his concern to himself. When I left San Francisco to fly to Nassau in late August of that year, I thought I was going with his full confidence and blessing. I appreciate that he didn’t share his reservations with me.

    That one year teaching in The Bahamas was a life-changing experience for me. It set my life in a totally different direction, one which served me well for the next fifty years.

    In March 2025, my youngest son, Brendan, made a bold, unexpected decision to resign from his job as a security guard and basketball coach at The Harker School in San José to pursue his dream of owning his own basketball training program. True Form Basketball, L.L.C. was born. I thought it was a poor decision, but I did my best to be supportive of Brendan in his new endeavor. Sadly, I think Brendan was well-aware that I wasn’t 100% in favor of his decision.

    Despite two basketball-related injuries in 2025, requiring surgeries on both of his knees, Brendan persisted in pursuing his dream. His relentless commitment to rehabilitating both knees and his insatiable desire to learn how to build and promote his new business, has laid a solid foundation upon which to build his growing program.

    While Brendan has tremendous respect for many of the great athletes to play the game of basketball through the years, he is most inspired by Kobe Bryant, remembered for his “Mamba Mentality” — an intense, relentless dedication to continuous improvement, resilience through adversity, and a fierce drive to maximize one’s potential. 

    Brendan has had more than his fair share of obstacles since launching True Form Basketball. Despite these setbacks, he is inspired by Kobe’s words about overcoming obstacles: “Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

    Leaving a job without the security of a regular paycheck, benefits, and a retirement account, might be an overwhelming source of fear for some. Brendan, however, embraced Kobe’s words: “If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.” I now have no doubt that Brendan will succeed in his new endeavor. He has the right mindset.

    The two surgeries were definitely a blow to Brendan’s plans, but Kobe had something to say about resilience, too. He said, “Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. Put one foot in front of the other, smile, and keep moving.” Brendan’s go-to phrase is “Keep it one motion.”

    Finally, there comes a point in life when we begin to consider the legacy we will leave. Kobe warned, “You are responsible for how people remember you — or don’t — so don’t take it lightly.” I don’t think Brendan is too concerned about his legacy. His primary concern is using his God-given talents to help others improve their basketball and overall life skills, and inspiring individuals to make a positive difference in the world through whatever they do. 

    (You can check out True Form Basketball on Brendan’s Instagram page, too.)

  • A Good Day

    “A father is a man  
    who expects his son  
    to be as good a man  
    as he meant to be.” 
    Frank A. Clark

    I spent another day in San Francisco today — another walking day. The difference between today’s walk and my City walk last Monday is that my youngest son, Brendan, joined me for the excursion. Other than that, it was a carbon copy of last week’s trek.

    We parked the car at 45th and Sloat, split a bowl of oatmeal with dried cranberries at Java Beach Café on Sloat, then headed north two miles along Sunset Dunes to Java Beach Café on Judah. There we split a bacon burrito. Fully satisfied, we were ready for a day of walking.

    As I mentioned, the walk was pretty much the same as the walk I took last week. We walked from the west end of Golden Gate Park to the east end at Stanyan Street. Along the way, we stopped at a number of small lakes, the Polo Fields, the San Francisco Mounted Police stables, then to see the bison enclosure. 

    From there we stopped at Spreckles Lake, the San Francisco Tennis Center, and Children’s Playground, where I shared memories of my childhood with Brendan. It was a short walk from there to Stanyan Street.

    We stopped for a drink at Flywheel Coffee Roasters, which is located in a retail space which was once the home of the Stanyan Street Cyclery. It was there, in June 1970, that I purchased my Raleigh Grand Prix 10-speed bicycle — the same bike I have in my garage today.

    The stop at the coffee shop was a nice respite before venturing into the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. We stopped at the childhood home of my mother on Oak Street, and just around the corner on Masonic Avenue, my maternal grandparents home during my early childhood. They lived directly across the street from St. Agnes Church.

    A walk down Haight Street is always an experience, and today was no different. Buildings painted with bright psychedelic colors and designs line both sides of the street. Some look a bit worn, while others seem to have been painted in recent years. A variety of shops, most of which are of little interest to me, draw crowds of locals and tourists. Finally, we made our way back to Stanyan Street.

    After brief stops at Kezar Pavilion, home of some epic high school basketball games through the years, and Kezar Stadium, the former home field of the San Francisco 49ers before their move to Candlestick Park, we returned to Golden Gate Park for the walk back to the beach.

    By the time we returned to our car at 45th and Sloat, we had logged 40,000 steps (again)! That converts to about 20 miles. It was a great day for both of us. When we returned home, we went directly to the jacuzzi to begin the process of healing our aching muscles. I’m confident that we will both sleep well tonight. 

  • Memorial Day

  • Luna Del Mar

    “A restaurant is 
    not a business; 
    it’s a passion.” 
    Laura Maioglio 

    I’ve passed by it many times — on foot and in my car. Sadly, I never noticed it until yesterday afternoon. Just north of the intersection of Saratoga Avenue and Williams Road in San José, a small restaurant occupies a cozy, but easily overlooked retail space at 991 Saratoga Avenue #110. Luna Del Mar is a mother-daughter venture specializing in seafood and a variety of Mexican dishes. The establishment has been there since September 2023. 

    Yesterday, while out for an afternoon walk, I dropped off a letter at our local post office on Payne Avenue. Then I walked down Saratoga Avenue toward Interstate 280. As I crossed Williams Road, I looked at my phone to check the time. That’s when I noticed that I’d missed a call from Kathy, who is visiting one of her brothers in Las Vegas this weekend. I looked around for a place where I could sit in the shade and return her call. In front of Luna Del Mar, there were two chairs, situated perfectly to give me both privacy and comfort. Or so I thought.

    As I sat down in one of the chairs, it completely collapsed below me. Apparently, someone had donated the defective chairs earlier that day, but the restaurant owner had not yet had time to dispose of them. So there I was, sitting on the ground amidst the rubble of what was once a chair. In addition to a significant thump to my rear end, the ribcage on the left side of my back had experienced painful contact with a large flower pot. For a minute or two, I didn’t move. I wasn’t sure if, or how badly, I might have been injured. Finally, a passer-by and his wife, who saw or heard me hit the ground, came to my aid. He and the restaurant owner helped me up to a standing position. I was invited to sit inside the restaurant in a more comfortable chair and offered a glass of cold water.

    I’m fairly certain that the owner was fearful that a lawsuit would be forthcoming. She and her daughter provided some much appreciated hospitality, providing a hot pack to apply to my ribcage. The mother, who owns the establishment, doesn’t speak English, so her college-age daughter was her interpreter for our conversation. I realized immediately that these two women were hard-working, honest individuals trying to provide a good eating experience for their customers. I asked to see a menu.

    I was impressed with the variety of offerings, but I wasn’t all that hungry, so I ordered a beef quesadilla. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the food delivered to my table far exceeded any expectations I might have had. The meal was fresh, well prepared, and plentiful. 

    So yeah, what started as an embarrassing situation ended with a delightful early dinner and the opportunity to meet two new friends. I insisted on paying for my meal, but I was not allowed to do so. When I told the owner that I would not file a lawsuit, she was incredibly relieved and shed tears of gratitude. And why would I do that, anyway? The experience was startling, and I have a few aches, but it was an accident. Stuff happens… and life goes on. There was no real negligence on her part.

    Gratitude makes a difference! And it’s contagious. The restaurant owner and her daughter are grateful that I’m not going to seek to be compensated for the incident, and I am grateful for a delicious meal and for the tender loving care I received from them. 

  • Podcast Episode: City Walks And Kindness

    Pip: Twenty miles on foot through San Francisco, a 101-year-old neighbor at Starbucks, and a retreat center where people learn to drop the rock — Kevin Carroll has been busy living out loud.

    Mara: That's the territory this episode covers: walking the Bay Area with fresh eyes, building community through small acts of kindness, sitting with the realities of getting older, and finding serenity when life gets heavy.

    Pip: Let's start with the walks.

    Miles, Memory, and the City by the Bay

    Mara: The question running through these posts is what it actually means to inhabit a place — not just pass through it. The anchor here is Epic City Walk, and the setup is right there in the numbers: "Yes,… 40,000+ steps — 20 miles… in one day. In all, it took ten hours."

    Pip: Ten hours on foot. Most people need a nap after the parking lot.

    Mara: The day started at Java Beach Café at 45th and Sloat, moved through the Sunset Dunes Recreation Area — the old Great Highway, now closed to cars — and wound through Golden Gate Park and the Haight before looping back. Yes, Again! traces the planning and the emotional pull of that same neighborhood, the Sunset District where he grew up.

    Mara: City Walk adds the longer context: Bob Siegel's Crosstown Trail, a 17-mile diagonal route across San Francisco created in 2019, described by one hiker as producing secret passageways that appear "just as promised, as if by magic." And Campbell, CA and Gridlock round out the theme — downtown Campbell as a retirement-era happy place, and South Bay traffic as the daily friction that walking helps you escape.

    Pip: The through-line is that moving through a place slowly is how you actually see it.

    Mara: That carries straight into how small gestures change what people see in each other.

    A Word, a Compliment, a Neighbor's Garden

    Mara: Be Kind opens with a direct challenge: kindness isn't accidental. "To act with kindness is never a random act; neither is it unintentional. Kindness always flows from self-awareness and empathy for others."

    Pip: Which reframes the whole thing — kindness as a practice, not a personality trait.

    Mara: Tell Them and Try This push that further. Try This is almost a dare: give three compliments before 3 p.m., every day. Tell Them catalogs the forms a compliment can take, from effort to appearance to simply paying attention. And 5 Simple Words builds the same case from the other direction — five words, "Thanks for all you do," offered to a parks crew and a county clerk who visibly hadn't heard it in a while.

    Mara: Sharing a Gift is the most concrete example: a neighbor named Martha who tends multiple private gardens and community plots for free and declined a Volunteer of the Year award because recognition isn't the point. Keep It Local extends that ethos to a locally owned breakfast spot where the owner greets customers at the door.

    Pip: From there, the posts turn inward — toward what it costs to keep showing up as you age.

    Getting Older, Staying Connected

    Mara: Getting Older frames the territory plainly. David Bowie's words run through it: "Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been." The post is honest that becoming that person is hard — forgiveness is named as the specific sticking point.

    Pip: Seven published books and still asking what's next. That's not a midlife crisis, that's just Tuesday at seventy-two.

    Mara: Three Old Men picks up the social texture of that stage — coffee shop gatherings where men talk about aches, medications, and grandkids, and where news of a former classmate's death no longer shocks because it arrives more often now.

    Mara: Use It or Lose It brings in the Harvard Study of Adult Development, tracking more than 700 people for 88 years. The finding: the biggest predictor of a long, healthy life is social, not biological. Men's Night and This Is Tony give that data a face — Al-Anon meetings as unexpected community, and Tony, a 101-year-old Stanford grad who drives himself to Starbucks every afternoon because connection is the whole point.

    Pip: Which sets up the harder question: what do you do when the weight you're carrying isn't easy to put down?

    Serenity, Letting Go, and Living in the Present

    Mara: This is the most personal stretch of posts. Coping with Sadness offers a clear-eyed toolkit: allow the feeling, prioritize sleep and nutrition, reach out, write, seek professional help when needed. Seeking Serenity moves from strategy to place — sacred spaces, from West Cliff Drive to the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos, and a memory of his mother sitting in her car at Land's End Lookout, reading or just watching the ocean.

    Pip: The Serenity Prayer shows up twice across these posts, which tells you something about how much weight it's carrying right now.

    Mara: Weekend Retreat makes that explicit — a retreat for family and friends of alcoholics, built around the prayer and around shared vulnerability. Drop the Rock names the practice directly: "When we drop the rock, we allow ourselves to reclaim the energy we need to live our own lives." The post connects that to Al-Anon's framework without making it abstract.

    Mara: The What if posts — two of them, built around single quotes or short collections — hold the same posture. Carl Bard's line from the second one lands quietly: "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." Memorable Meals, We Are Not Alone, Fun with Words, Just for Fun, Ooops!, and Who, me? each circle the same themes from different angles — presence, attention, the pleasure of language, the cost of distraction — and together they fill out a portrait of someone paying close attention to what a day can hold.

    Pip: Twenty miles, a garden tended for free, a 101-year-old at Starbucks, and a rock worth dropping — there's a coherent philosophy in there.

    Mara: Move through the world slowly enough to see it, say the kind thing out loud, and let go of what you can't carry. That's the thread.

    Pip: Same territory next time, probably with more steps.

  • Stay Humble

  • Check It Out!

    In collaboration with my son, Brendan, a gratitude cap is now available online. Click HERE to check it out.

    When you get to the site, the top image is significantly blurred. Just ignore it and scroll down. As you go down, you’ll see clear images of the cap, along with the link to make a purchase, should you decide to get one (or more).

    It really is all about gratitude!