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)

  • Late Night Thought

  • In My Own Words

    Sunset at Ocean Beach
    San Francisco
    Saturday, October 11, 2025

  • Helping Others

    It’s been almost twenty years since the movie The Bucket List hit the silver screen. After watching the film, I took some time to make my own bucket list — things I wanted to accomplish before my death. The #1 item on my list at that time was to write and publish a book. Ten years later, I published my first book, A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude. Since that time, I’ve written and published five more. While there is certainly a sense of accomplishment having done this, I am well aware that I didn’t do this on my own.

    Writing that first book was initially a daunting task for me. What gave me the idea that I could write and publish a book? Who would have any interest in reading my book even if I did managed to publish it? These and other obstacles danced around in my head. The desire to write and publish was still there, but I was lacking the confidence to initiate the process.

    In early 2017, I received an email pertaining to one of my blog posts. In that piece, I had mentioned the book Breakfast with Buddha, which my Mom had recommended to me. To be honest, the book title didn’t pique my interest, but Mom knew me better than anyone else and she thought I’d enjoy the book. She was right. Upon finishing the novel, I mentioned it in a blog post. Much to my surprise, just a few days later, I received an email message from the author, Roland Merullo, who lives in western Massachusetts. In a subsequent exchange of messages, he assured me that my writing skills were sufficient to write and publish. That’s what got me started.

    As the manuscript for my first book was coming together, I had the privilege of meeting another author. Hal Urban is a graduate of the University of San Francisco. He devoted his life to teaching at the high school and university (USF) levels. He had also authored a number of books, one of which I had read before I met him. I decided to seek his guidance as I ventured toward publishing a book of my own. His mentorship, then and now, has been a blessing. 

    One thing I have learned from my experience as a published writer is summed-up rather nicely by Michelle Obama in the quote above. “When you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that door of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.” 

    In the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to help a few others publish their books. My Mom’s good friend, Bev, needed help republishing a previously published book about her ongoing recovery from a horrific car accident. My neighbor, Dominika, asked for my assistance editing and publishing her first book about growing up without siblings. My longtime friend, John, needed a little urging (and editing) to publish his book about the joys and challenges of nursing. And, most recently, I had the pleasure of working with my friend Patrick Maguire, the owner of Java Beach Café in The City, to publish his first book, All Things Beautiful. 

    I find tremendous satisfaction in encouraging and assisting others to achieve their own dream of writing and publishing a book. I can easily relate to the words of Indian actor Gautam Rode. He said, “I think we forget sometimes how blessed we are to be able to help others and make a difference.” As Martin Luther King, Jr. pointed out, “Life’s most persistent question is: What are you doing for others?”

  • Bare Feet

    “And forget not that the 
    earth delights to feel 
    your bare feet…” 
    Kahlil Gibran

    This quote, from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, may contain a valuable pearl of wisdom. How wonderful it is, for some folks, to walk through a forest, along a beach, or across a meadow with no shoes on their feet. I’m told that it is an experience which helps people to feel grounded. Walking barefoot can provide numerous physical and mental health benefits, primarily by strengthening foot muscles, improving balance, and reducing stress. Despite these benefits, however, walking barefoot can be downright painful.

    My friend and colleague, Dan Pasini, coached the track & field team at Saint Augustine’s College in the Bahamas fifty years ago. One of his best runners ran barefoot. The track around the Saint Augustine’s field was not an all-weather surface made of the polyurethane and rubber. At SAC, runners ran on a surface that was a combination of grass, limestone, and sand. In fact, it was a stretch to even call it a track. How anyone could run barefoot on such a rough surface is beyond my comprehension.

    Having grown up in San Francisco, I rarely, if ever, walked around outside without shoes on. One reason was the persistent cold and fog deterred anyone who might be inclined to do so. There were also social norms in The City which dictated that kids wear shoes to the park and to play around the neighborhood. No one I knew was in the habit of going barefoot.

    Because of this, the bottoms of my feet are incredibly tender to this day. I’m okay walking around inside our home on carpet, tile, and laminate flooring. The thought of stepping outside into our front patio without shoes is something I would not consider. The aggregate concrete would be painful for my feet.   

    So it was a bit strange for me to have a dream yesterday about walking in the sand at the beach. I took an afternoon nap. When Scarlett came by with her Dad to pick up Henry, she came up to my office where I was snoozing in the recliner. She was so gentle in waking me up. I was in the middle of a dream in which I was walking barefoot on warm, soft, white sand at a beach. It wasn’t the type of sand one would find at Ocean Beach in The City, or even at a beach in Santa Cruz. It was definitely an island beach, most likely in the Bahamas. 

    When I was much younger, the beach was one of the only places I would go barefoot, but even then, it was not easy for me. If the sand was too hot or too grainy, it would hurt the bottoms of my feet. It’s been many years since I’ve walked around with my shoes off outdoors, even at beaches in Nassau. When I visit one of the scenic beaches there now, I prefer to find a place to sit in the shade, with my shoes on, where I can enjoy a view of the beach, rather than being on the beach itself. 

    The earth may delight to feel my bare feet, as Gibran suggests in the quote above, but being barefoot is anything but a delight to me.

  • Just a Thought…

    “You will never reach your 
    destination if you stop 
    and throw stones at 
    every barking dog.”

    Winston Churchill

    I first came across this insightful quote back in 2012 when I was confronted by the incessant barking of a small handful of disgruntled colleagues in the workplace. Churchill’s words were a reminder to me then that I had a choice as to how to react, or not react, to these annoying distractions. The quote is just as pertinent today as it was thirteen years ago.

    The phrase serves as a metaphor for staying focused in life and not allowing the minor criticisms or distractions from others to interfere with our inner peace. The quote encourages us to simply ignore negativity and insignificant distractions (“barking dogs”) and continue to live our life with integrity, gratitude, and peace.

    As Viktor Frankl wrote, “The last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” I continue to be inspired by the words of the Dalai Lama, who proclaimed, “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

  • Deb

    “Sudden loss remind us 
    to cherish each day.” 
    Jamie Anderson

    My cousin, Debbie, and I have been meeting for lunch once a month for the past couple of years. Each month, we pick a different restaurant somewhere between San Francisco and San José. Last month, we enjoyed a meal at the Alpine Inn, located in Portola Valley. Tomorrow we were going to meet at the Pilot Light Café at the Half Moon Bay airport. I had checked the online menu and already knew exactly what I was going to order.

    I was completely caught off-guard last night when I learned that Debbie passed away unexpectedly late Saturday night.

    Yesterday was a strange day. I woke up at 9:30 a.m., much later than usual. I got up and went through the motions of my day. For some reason, however, I couldn’t find the motivation to get dressed and do anything. After doing a little writing, I sat in the chair in my home office and fell asleep for almost two hours. Still in my pajamas, I got up, had a bite to eat, and spent some time working on advertising for my friend Pat’s newly-published book. After a brief visit by the grandkids, I found myself back in my office, in my chair, napping again. When I woke up, it was time for dinner, and I was still in my pajamas. I felt fine physically, but I was in a bit of a funk which I couldn’t understand… until I got the news. 

    Is it possible that I could, in some strange way, have sensed that Debbie had died? That would certainly explain the feeling of emptiness and the lack of motivation I felt throughout the day. I don’t understand it, but just maybe that’s what was going on with me.

    Despite all the extra sleep I got yesterday, I slept soundly for nine hours last night. Except for the obvious sense of loss, I feel good today. I decided to drive up to my happy place — Java Beach Café in The City. The sun is shining brightly with a gentle breeze coming from the east, so the temperature here at noon time is about 75º. I’ll spend a good part of today walking along the beach at Sunset Dunes Park and, perhaps, through other areas of The City, as well. 

    Debbie will be missed. Her laughter, love, and light will be forever etched into my memory.

  • In God’s Hands

    “Cast all your worries 
    upon him because 
    he cares for you.”      
    1 Peter 5:7

    It’s such a common response from well-intentioned people: “Put it in God’s hands.” It seems like such a compassionate thing to say to someone (or to yourself) who is dealing with struggles in their life. I’ve said this to people before, too. Yesterday afternoon, a thought crossed my mind, one which I’ve given consideration to in the past. Do we even have the power to put something in God’s hands?

    I know the meaning of this phrase is not about power. It’s about surrender. Some things in life are simply beyond our control, so for us to hold on to them, stubbornly believing that we can somehow affect a preferred outcome on our own, is an exercise in futility. By turning our concerns over to God, we believe that we can release ourselves from the burden of owning the issue. I understand this, but…

    Throughout my 43-year career in pastoral ministry and Catholic education, I participated in countless gatherings which began with prayer. Quite often, the prayer leader would begin by inviting participants to put themselves in the presence of God. Seriously? Aren’t we all already in God’s presence? I always thought this was a strange way for Catholic professionals to begin prayer.

    Yesterday, while walking in San Francisco, I met a two young men who were watching their daughters play soccer at Parkside Square Park, located at 27th & Vicente. One of the Dads mentioned that he had attended Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. I smiled and told him I had a test question for him. He initially squirmed at the thought, but good-heartedly agreed to give it a shot. I said, “Let us remember…”

    Immediately the gentleman replied, “…that we are in the holy presence of God.” I congratulated him for providing the correct response. Saint Mary’s College is an educational institution run by the Christian Brothers. In the tradition of the Brothers, communal prayer begins with this brief verbal exchange. Even though I am the product of Jesuit education (high school, undergrad, and graduate school), in my years of teaching, I began class prayer each day using the Christian Brothers’ formula. I would say aloud, “Let us remember…” My students, in unison, would respond, “…that we are in the holy presence of God.” Then, after a brief pause, prayer would continue. 

    My point is that there is no need, nor is it even possible, for us to “put ourselves” in God’s presence. We are already there! Using this same rationale, I question the recommendation that I, and so many others, have casually given to people that they “put their problem (whatever it is) into God’s hands.” God already knows what’s going on. God already cares what’s going on. God already wants us to be happy.

    Yes, we have the ability to surrender our troubles to God, but this is not about us putting anything in God’s hands. It’s about us acknowledging that our concerns are already in God’s hands. This, in itself, should bring us a tremendous sense of peace.

  • This

    And that’s okay. 

    It’s been said that all saints have a past, and all sinners have a future. What an encouraging thought! There is no need for us to dwell on the mistakes or poor decisions of our past. Every moment wasted regretting our past inhibits us from moving forward and embracing the opportunities of our future.

    I find tremendous solace in the hopeful words of C.S. Lewis. He wrote, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” 

  • Thrive!

    “We are all living in cages 
    with the door wide open.”      
    George Lucas

    Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a cage? Maybe that feeling was associated with a nagging sense of dissatisfaction in your workplace. Perhaps you had a less-than-ideal roommate during your college years. It might even have been the result of a rental agreement on an apartment which was no longer serving your needs. In these and so many other situations, we think we are trapped with no way out. But are we really?

    It’s quite common for someone to feel helpless in such a dilemma. They literally feel “caged-in” by their circumstances. “I have no option but to stay in this job, because…” Really? There are no other options? Or is it possible that the person has simply not investigated the possibilities or given serious consideration to any other viable options?

    I’ve never been a big fan of the phrase “thinking outside the box.” It has been used ad nauseam, yet I’m totally okay with the concept. There is certainly some value in considering unique or innovative alternatives to challenging situations. The first step, it seems, is to recognize that, in most cases, we are not powerless.  It’s our choice to remain in or to leave almost any situation. So what stops us from making the change? Quite often, it’s fear.

    What might one be afraid of? I’m sure there are many possible answers, but the one that comes to mind as I write this piece is fear of regret. If we make the change, we may regret having done so. If we don’t make the change, we may regret that we didn’t. I guess that’s a risk we take with just about any decision in our lifetime.

    I was unaware of the George Lucas quote above until I heard it mentioned on the radio as I was driving home from the Santa Clara train station yesterday afternoon. The words got me thinking,… and now writing. It seems that most people I know feel caged-in to some extent. There are so many expectations placed on us — by parents, family members, friends, or society in general — pressuring us to live our lives in a certain way. Despite this, it’s important that we recognize that the door to the cage in which we believe we are confined… is wide open.

    Life is short. We are all invited and challenged to live our life to the fullest. Too many, however, focus on simply enduring their present situation. It’s critical for each of us to recognize that we were not created to merely survive, but, rather, to thrive.

  • Just How It Is

    “We all arrive on Earth
    with a round-trip ticket.”
    Richard Paul Evans

    Who is someone you are grateful for that enhances your everyday life? Now, imagine a world without this person. How would your life be different?

    This is a potential situation which confronts all of us every day. Tomorrow is promised to no one. All too many people have experienced first-hand the unexpected loss of a friend, neighbor, coworker, classmate, or loved one. It happens. Despite this reality, we go through life day after day taking people for granted. 

    I’ve been writing about gratitude for almost nineteen years now. Each day, I make it a point to take a moment’s pause for gratitude. Each day, I make a concerted effort to view the world around me through the lens of gratitude. Yet each day I fail to truly appreciate some of the people who make my life better.

    According to the American Cancer Society’s 2025 projections, approximately 5,600 people are diagnosed with cancer each day in the United States. This includes over two million new cancer cases anticipated for the year. 

    Approximately 8,450 people die in the U.S. each day, a daily average of 352 deaths per hour. (This number is based on the estimated total of deaths annually, rather than an exact figure for any particular day.) A fair number of these deaths are unforeseen. 

    I should point out that death is not the only way we could lose someone who enhances our everyday life. We can lose people we know, people we care about, people we rely on in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. It happens. That’s just how life plays out sometimes. 

    Living gratefully helps us to realize the tremendous value of the people with whom we interact every day. It also reminds us that these individuals, these blessings to us, are not guaranteed. It is for this reason that we need to prioritize living our lives to the fullest, and consistently appreciating the presence of those around us.

    Lauren Klarfeld, a writer from Belgium, wrote, “Remember that people are only guests in your story — the same way you are only a guest in theirs — so make the chapters worth reading.”