A businessman told a young friend, "It's not easy to get ahead in this world. As a lad I started out at the bottom. I struggled, worked, sweated, climbing the ladder of life hand over hand, rung by rung." The young friend asked, "And now you are a great success?" The businessman answered, "Well, no, but I'm getting good at climbing ladders."

Thoughts by the late Rev. Paul Osumi are selected weekly by his family.