A Beacon of Light

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  • 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)

  • Two Rules


    “Speak less than
    you know;
    have more than
    you show.”
    William Shakespeare
    (Paraphrased)

    It’s an interesting thing… research from more than thirty years ago indicates that some male college professors have been known to teach in such a way that the learner could not possibly understand clearly what he was teaching. For example: Instead of saying something as simple and clear as “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” a professor might, instead, say something like this: “Men, women, and children, residing in virtuous modules, should refrain from projecting, by physical or mechanical means, any type of geological specimen.” 

    It is suggested that, perhaps, the reason for such a pretentious style of teaching is that the professor, having more knowledge than his students, perceives himself to have a higher status than those sitting in the classroom. To share the knowledge he possesses with his students, therefore, would enable those students to know more of what he knows, thereby minimizing the disparity of knowledge between the two. This, of course, could be seen as a threat to the professor’s status.

    I guess it’s also possible that those professors may have seen the image above. This image, which is meant to be humorous, rather than instructive, is not such a good idea for anyone in the teaching profession.

    In William Shakespeare’s King Lear, the words quoted above (or something like them) were spoken by the Fool. They suggest that one should develop his inner character and knowledge, characterized by modesty, wisdom, and restraint, rather than seeking the approval of others. It is a call to be humble, to select one’s words carefully, and to allow one’s actions and accomplishments to speak for themselves.  

    Sadly, and all too often, individuals attempt to impress others with their words and with an inflated portrayal of their worldly possessions. I know I am guilty of having done this. There have been times when, in an attempt to impress someone, I have said more than needs to be said or exaggerated my actual status. I’m not proud to admit this, but it’s true.

    It’s interesting that, in King Lear, it was the Fool who spoke such words of wisdom. 

  • A Simple Thought

  • A Special Day

    “I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought, and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.”
    Dr. Leo Buscaglia

    • • •

    Happy Birthday, Mom!

    (She would have been 96 years old today.)

  • A Special Day

    “God loves us,
    God loves you all,
    and evil will
    not prevail.”
    Pope Leo XIV

    What an exciting day for Kathy, my brother Tom, and the other pilgrims who attended the morning Angelus prayer with Pope Leo XIV today. Kathy, Tom, and more than a dozen others have spent the past thirteen days exploring the history of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. 

    The pilgrimage began in Spain, where the group visited Loyola, the birthplace of Saint Ignatius, as well as Manresa and Montserrat, where Ignatius had profound spiritual experiences. They are now in Italy, where they are able to visit the place Ignatius was ordained to the priesthood, where he celebrated his first Mass, and where the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) was officially recognized and approved by Pope Paul III in 1540. 

    Today, the group had the opportunity to see Pope Leo XIV in person at Castel Gandolfo, the pope’s summer residence. It is located in the town of Auburn Hills, just outside of Rome.

    I happened to wake up at exactly 2:00 this morning, which is 11:00 a.m. in Rome, so I came here to my home office and watched the livestream of the prayer service. It was amazing for me to think that Kathy and Tom were both in attendance.

    No doubt, this will one of the most memorable experiences in their lifetimes. Even though I watched from home, it will be memorable for me, as well. 

  • The American Dream

    “The faith that anyone could
    move from rags to riches
    was once at the core of
    the American Dream.”
    Robert Reich

    Since the founding of our country, the definition of the American Dream has been constantly evolving. The term means different things to different people. The American Dream in 2025 seems to be considerably different from my understanding of it in 1975.

    It used to be that if you worked hard and followed the rules, you could attain the American Dream. Evidence of having reached this point was a job, home ownership, and a family. This is no longer the case. For younger Americans in 2025, the American Dream is not defined the same way.

    Home ownership, which was once the cornerstone of the American Dream, is no longer attainable for many young people. Working for one company for 40 years and retiring with a pension and health benefits for life is, for most, a thing of the past. In 1940, 92% of young people could expect to be more financially secure than their parents were. Today, that number is closer to 50%.

    The American Dream in 2025?

    According to a recent survey conducted by Howdy.com, a high tech recruitment company, 76% of Gen-Z and millennials believe that the American Dream is the opportunity to work from home. In that same survey, apparently due to changes in the economic and political structures of our country today, 77% indicated that they believe life would be better outside the U.S. I have to admit, this surprises me.

    Job portability, the freedom to work from home, or some other place of choice, was not an option for Baby Boomers. During the pandemic, however, and due to the many innovations in technology over the past forty years, workers have proven that working productively outside the traditional office environment is possible for many professionals. This alternative work environment offers workers the opportunity to live anywhere they want.

    Investopedia, a financial education website founded in 1999, is known for its comprehensive financial dictionary. They developed their own definition of the American Dream: “The belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone.” I think the key phrase here is “their own version of success.” This can vary from person to person.

    Bridgeworks, an organization based in Minnesota, has been helping organizations navigate the complexities of a multi-generational workforce for almost 30 years. They identify the images, mantras, and icons of the various generations. For those born before 1945, for example, the image was the self-made man. The mantra was “Pull yourself up by the bootstraps.” Icons included Walt Disney and Henry Ford.

    For Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, the image was the single-family home with a white picket fence. The mantra was “Keepin’ up with the Joneses.” Icons for Boomers included the Kennedys and the Cleavers (from the popular TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver.) 

    Gen-Xers, born between 1965 and 1979, embraced the image of the corner office. The common mantra was “Success is the best revenge.” And a popular icon for this generation was Michael Jackson.

    Those born between 1980 and 1995 are referred to as Millennials. For them, it’s all about living for the journey, rather than simply the destination. Their mantra was “You can do anything you put your mind to.” The well-known icon for this generation is Mark Zuckerberg.

    Finally, there are those born after 1995. Some refer to them as Gen-Edge. These younger Americans cling to the image of having and being enough. Their mantra is “Success isn’t given, it’s earned.” One impressive icon to whom this generation relates is Malala Yousafzai.

    The American Dream is not dead. It simply continues to evolve. In 2025, the American Dream is more of a mindset than an accumulation of wealth and possessions. As Viktor Frankl wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, the last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.  

  • Liam at 11

    “The years teach much
    which the days
    never knew.”
    Ralph Waldo Emerson

    I must admit that, eleven years ago today, I did not understand how becoming a grandparent would change my life for the better. My eldest son, Tom, and his wife, Hillaray, gave birth to their first child, Liam, on September 8, 2014. There was certainly a feeling of celebration that day, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude, but I was completely unaware of how having a grandchild would be such an enjoyable and transformative experience for me.

    Not long after Liam was born, I was listening to music in my classroom after school one day. A song came on by Jamaican artist Pato Banton called Life is a Miracle. I love the song, so I was thoroughly enjoying listening to it when it struck me — Life Is A Miracle. Liam is an acronym! 

    When Tom and Hillaray returned to their jobs, Kathy was eager to help out with the childcare responsibilities during the week. Now, eleven years later, she has provided this service, this ministry, for all five of our grandkids. It has been an experience for which Kathy is incredibly grateful… and understandably tired!

    Since my retirement, I’ve helped with childcare responsibilities to some degree, but to be honest, that’s not how I wanted to spend my retirement years. Knowing Kathy was more than capable of taking good care of the children, and knowing how fulfilling it is for her to do so, my role was simply to step in when needed.

    Each grandchild is an individual human being with unique needs, interests, and wants. I am grateful for the somewhat limited role I’ve played in being a part of their lives. 

    Liam is a gentle soul. He is kind, thoughtful, and incredibly altruistic for a child his age. Like most kids, he has a variety of interests which include Pokémon and jiu jitsu. Recently, however, Liam has shown a focused interest on the game of baseball. He began playing in a recreational league last year. This year, Liam is playing on a “travel team,” meaning that his team will be involved in tournaments around the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

    Last week, I had the opportunity to see Liam in his first tournament game in Sunnyvale. Players on the opposing team were a year older than Liam and his teammates. It was a great experience for Liam. His team didn’t win the game, but what they gained in game experience is far greater than a weekend of practices at their local field. Liam had a good defensive game, making plays that came his way. He also had a solid base hit to left field against the older pitcher. He was clearly enjoying himself.

    Liam and his sister, Emily, along with their cousins Penelope, Scarlett, and Henry, have added so much to my life. Watching them grow has been a magical experience. Like flowers in a garden that need attention and water for nourishment, kids need the love and attention of their grandparents to help them live their lives to the fullest. And isn’t that how we are all called to live our lives?  

  • The Gift of Life

    “Life is a precious gift —
    a gift we often take for
    granted until it is
    threatened.”
    Lecrae

    I don’t think I’ve ever had a true “near death experience.” In fact, only one occasion comes to mind which make me think that I might have been closer to death than I realized at the time.

    It happened in June 1971. Playing in a pick-up softball game on campus after the last final exam of my junior year at Saint Ignatius College Prep, I misjudged a hard-hit ground ball. It smacked the inside of my left ankle. The pain was considerable, exceeded only by my embarrassment. After the game, a friend offered me a ride home. As I climbed into the back seat (behind the driver’s seat) of his two-door Ford Thunderbird, he thought I was completely settled. Actually, I was carefully bringing my left leg into the car. The car door crushed my ankle, the same one hit by the softball, between the door and the frame of the car. At that point, the pain was excruciating.

    I did my best to conceal my injury to my parents, as I was scheduled to leave for a six-week trip to Jamaica on June 24th. I didn’t want anything to jeopardize that trip. Fortunately, on June 17th, my mother noticed that I was favoring my left ankle when I walked and inquired about it. I tried to brush it off, but she wasn’t having any of it. She wanted to see it.

    The next thing I knew, I was on my way to Saint Mary’s Hospital, where I spent the next ten days in isolation. The diagnosis was a blood clot with staph infection. Needless to say, I didn’t leave for Jamaica on the 24th. The doctor told my parents later that week that if I had successfully concealed the injury and gone to Jamaica, there was a good chance that I would have lost my leg or my life.

    I got to thinking about all this yesterday afternoon when I happened to see one of my neighbors. Three months ago, just a little after midnight, I woke up to the sound of emergency vehicles outside my bedroom window. My elderly neighbor was having a medical crisis. Knowing that her two sons are not local, I went over to check on her. Paramedics were preparing to transfer her to Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara. The look on her face was one of fear. I assured her that I would close up her home for her.

    I returned home and told Kathy I was going over to Kaiser. I didn’t want my neighbor to be there alone in that condition. As it turns out, I was not able to see her at the hospital that night and I had not seen her since that time — until this afternoon.

    She told me that she had just returned to her home after a stay at an assisted living facility. We had a wonderful conversation about health, hearts, and kidney function (she’s on dialysis now). She was out of her home for three months dealing with the various health issues. As we spoke, she kept telling me to appreciate every day, as we never know how many days we have left in our life. She’s 87 years old and noticeably more frail than I’ve ever seen her. I don’t know her medical prognosis, but her mindset is impressive. She wants to make the most of each and every day remaining in her life.

    It’s true: life IS a precious gift. It’s unfortunate that so many fail to truly appreciate their life until they have a brush with death. It is for this reason that the image above caught my attention. Today only happens once… make it amazing!  

  • Henry Time!

    “The soul is healed
    by being
    with children.”
    Fyodor Dostoevsky

    First there was Liam. Then Emily. A few years later, Penny was born, followed shortly by Scarlett. Finally, Henry entered the world. Five precious grandchildren. Five unique personalities. Five sets of interests and abilities. Each one different in their own way. Yet all five of these young ones have embedded themselves in my heart in very special ways.

    I have had the pleasure of spending time with all five of our grandkids through the years. Usually, the time we spend together is with family. Every now and then, however, I get to spend one-on-one time with them. If they only knew how much these little moments mean to me. My relationship with my grandchildren can be described with just one word: love.

    Liam is now in 5th grade. Emily is in 3rd. Penny started kindergarten this year. Scarlett is in her second year of preschool. All four of them spend the better part of their day at school now. Henry, however, is not yet two-years-old. Normally, while his parents are working, Henry spends his days with Kathy. He loves time with his grandma. But with Kathy in Europe for two weeks, I have the absolute privilege of caring for him during the day. I want to make the most of this time we have together.

    Henry is a character. He’s totally aware of what’s happening around him. He understands everything said to him. He communicates his wants and needs with the limited vocabulary he has at this point, but he leaves no doubt about what he wants. Henry also has a charming sense of humor. He loves to play games. He knows when I’m teasing him and he likes to tease me right back. At the same time, when I need to convey an important message to Henry, he understands the difference in the tone of my voice. He stops, looks at me, (thinks about it for a moment), then willingly comes to me. I’m tremendously grateful that he understands when I’m being serious.

    It’s only been three days since Kathy departed for Europe. Henry and I have visited two parks, taken a walk around the neighborhood, he accompanied me to an appointment I had at the Xfinity office in San José (where he charmed just about everyone in the room), stopped for a treat at Starbucks, took a walk around the Target store, and attended Story Time at the local library. I’m doing my best to keep him on the schedule to which he has become accustomed — lunch at noon followed by a two-hour nap. So far, this has served both of us quite well.

    In the next couple of days, we’ll be visiting other parks, taking rides on a local bus and on CalTrain, meeting my sister Cathy for lunch in Burlingame (that’ll throw him off his nap schedule for the day), going to either the library or a local bookstore to read books together (something he thoroughly enjoys), and… maybe even stopping for an ice cream or Boba drink somewhere along the way. 

    This opportunity will never be available to me again. I definitely want to make the most of it.

  • Clunk!

    “Thunder is good,
    thunder is impressive;
    but it is lightning
    that does the work.”
    Mark Twain

    Kathy, and her traveling companions on the KLM flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam, received quite a greeting as they descended into the Amsterdam airport. Without warning, there was a loud “Clunk!” sound. This was not a sound that could be easily ignored. Soon after, a flight attendant made the announcement that the plane had been struck by lightning. She assured passengers that this was not a problem, and, in fact, that it happens all the time. 

    All the time? To the best of my knowledge, I have never been on a plane that’s been struck by lightning. Scientists claim, however, that it really does happen fairly regularly — once every 1,000 flight hours, in fact.

    One might rightly believe that this would be cause for concern. Apparently, it’s not. The last time a plane went down due to a lightning strike was in 1967. Since that time, aircraft design has been improved to deal with such acts of nature. When a plane is struck by lightning today, modern aircraft are designed to withstand such strikes. The energy from the lightning strike follows a conductive path, typically on the exterior of the aircraft, and exits at another point without entering the cabin of the plane. 

    What a way to begin a trip! No matter what Kathy experiences during the remainder of her travels in Spain and Italy, she already has a shocking story to tell the grandkids when she gets back home. 

  • The Phone

    “All that we deeply love
    become a part of us.”
    Helen Keller

    How often do you wish you could pick up the phone for just one more call to someone you love who is no longer with you?

    The Great Highway, a 2.3-mile roadway which paralleled the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco, was recently closed to motor traffic and transformed into what is now called Sunset Dunes Park, a recreation area for walkers, joggers, runners, bikers, scooter riders, skateboarders, and people on roller blades. Some like the change. Many do not. What I do know is that one of the most beautiful, peaceful walks in San Francisco is along this roadway between Sloat Boulevard to the south and Lincoln Way to the north.

    The new park includes a few unique features: hammocks, benches, exercise equipment, a small skatepark and bicycle skills course, artwork, occasional live music, and… a telephone. Yes, a telephone, but not just any telephone.

    Where Ortega Street ends at the beach, there is a phone booth, of sorts. It’s not your typical phone booth. (Do such things even exist anymore?) This phone invites passers-by to make a call to someone they love who is no longer with us.

    Ocean Calling offers a unique opportunity to speak words of love, grief, and remembrance into the wind and waves of the Pacific Ocean. The phone is not connected to a land line. It’s a prop, one which may be used, or not, to connect with a loved one.

    Just to the right of the phone booth is a small sign, easily overlooked. I happened to notice it for the first time last week. The sign reads:
     
    “Here, at the edge of the continent, where the Pacific Ocean’s power is palpable, you are invited into a portal for speaking to your lost loved ones. When you offer your words through  the wind and waves, you join an interconnected web of people who have made and received calls.”

    The intention of Ocean Calling is to make grief visible and communal, to replace shame and isolation with the possibility of catharsis and maybe even connection to others.

    Sunset Dunes Park is more than just a recreation area. It is a sacred space, a venue which invites and encourages visitors to engage in thoughtful reflection and prayer, to express joy and grief, to enjoy companionship or solitude, and to experience the awesome power of nature. It is also a perfect location to take a moment’s pause… for gratitude.