REFLECTIONS ON LIFE, WORK, AND FAITH IN THE 21ST-CENTURY AMERICA
Hopeful stories from a Catholic parent, business professional, and first-generation Asian-American
In July, my wife Lili and I took a 13-day trip to Ecuador with Gate 1 Travel. We went there for the adventure, and we were not disappointed. From the Galapagos Islands to the Andes Mountains to the Amazon forest: we were awed every single day. But more than exciting adventures, the trip gave us valuable life lessons. One of them came early in our trip. Group …
Continue reading "Day by Day: Wisdom from Ecuador’s Journey "
On our recent trip to Ecuador, my wife Lili and I spent three nights at the exquisite Sacha Lodge, deep in the Amazon jungle. To get there, we rode a motorized canoe along the vast Rio Napo (a tributary of the Amazon River) from the town of Coca. Along the way, the captain skillfully zigzagged …
Continue reading "Navigating Leadership: Lessons from the Amazon and St. Paul"
Except for a weekend trip to Atlanta to visit our son Austin, his fiancé Tori, and her family in early December, Lili and I are staying in town this month. As I put up the Christmas tree on Friday the 13th (yes, a bit late! 😊), the ornaments we’ve collected from our many trips transported …
In our first trip to Italy earlier this year, my wife and I visited Assisi, a graceful hilltop town in Umbria, and we absolutely loved it. As the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan movement, the town has a strong spiritual character. Yet, it is also a place of magnificent views, relaxing walking and hiking, and good food. All in a peaceful atmosphere.
My wife and I went to Rome for the first time this year, and we found it too crowded and noisy. As the Church celebrates the great Saints Peter and Paul today, I can’t help but reflect on their lives, accomplishments, and sacrifices in the same crowded city two millennia ago. In our first vacation …
If you work in high tech sector and travel for business like I do, chances are you'll eventually find yourself in Silicon Valley. The term “Silicon Valley” referred to the Santa Clara Valley area in California and was coined by journalist Don Hoefler when he published an article titled "Silicon Valley USA” in the Electronic …
Continue reading "Five Places to Unwind in Silicon Valley, California"
I went to the 7 AM Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix on Wednesday this past week. The old Catholic church (the oldest one in the city) was a nice 10-minute walk from my hotel in a cool winter morning, and I got there just in time. St. Mary's Basilica is located in …
Continue reading "Judged by Goodness: A (Short) Lent Reflection"
For more than two billion Christian people in the world today, the Nicene Creed neatly summarizes their faith in ten sentences. It includes a “definition” of who Jesus Christ, the central figure in Christianity, is. Yet, unbeknownst to many, the Christian faith may have been very different today if not for one man’s leadership, courage, …
Continue reading "Contra Mundum: The Price of Faith and Leadership"
As I boarded the Zion Canyon shuttle bus on that cold Wednesday morning in late November, my mind was racing back and forth: Should I hike the mild Kayenta Trail or the famous-but-strenuous Angels Landing? My grown-up kids Dea and Martin, their spouses Vincent and Claire, and my youngest son, Austin, were going to take …
Continue reading "The Virgin and The Angels: Two Days At Zion National Park"
Taking advantage of a 2.5 day break in our schedule, we headed to Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Springs, AR. There we found a lovely cabin on the water, two delightful hiking trails, and a passionate master potter in the woods.
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE, WORK, AND FAITH IN THE 21ST-CENTURY AMERICA 