Sunday Morning Café

10/14/2026

In the musical Man of La Mancha, there's a line that captures the curious paradox of the creative life: "Yet if you build your life on dreams, it's prudent to recall—a man with moonlight in his hand has nothing there at all."

The creative life requires complete commitment. Yet what we're committed to can sometimes feel as elusive as moonlight.

What keeps an artist creating when inspiration runs dry, obstacles pile up, and rejection is always a possibility?

Perhaps nothing short of courage.

☕ Read this week’s article or listen to the podcast version. Links to both are in the comments.

10/14/2026

Our Nov 8 Sunday Morning Café event guest, Javier Mendoza (Hobo Cane) was on the Dave Glover Show yesterday! Hear him talk about what he's been up to and the upcoming event at the 1:01:21 mark 🎶🎉

Tickets: Creating From the Soul with Javier Mendoza (aka Hobo Cane)

10/11/2026

Thirty-five years ago, I spent a week with spiritual theologian David Hassel, whose books sometimes took years to complete.

When I asked what it was like to have one of his books poorly received, he answered with remarkable frankness: "It's like having your baby rejected."

Anyone who's ever poured themselves into something meaningful knows something about that kind of vulnerability. And yet, artists continue offering their gifts to the world, again and again.

Maybe courage isn't the absence of vulnerability. Maybe it's the willingness to create and love despite it.

☕ Read this week’s article or listen to the podcast version. Both are on my website, also linked in my profile bio.

10/07/2026

Years ago, Javier Mendoza asked if he could add his guitar and voice to a music group I was overseeing. If I’d known who this was, and what he was offering, I would have instantly signed him on the spot, as if I were The Colonel and he were Elvis (BTW, He’s way better than Elvis!).

As it happened in real life, if my response were plotted on a graph, it would be recorded at least two standard deviations away from enthusiasm. Fortunately, he shook off my bucket of ice water, in the same way that he has climbed over, around, and through dozens of people and circumstances that have stood in the way of his calling to create.

“The Cost of Creativity” is now on the blog. The link is in the comments.

10/05/2026

10/04/2026

What does a creative life actually look like behind the scenes?

For singer-songwriter Javier Mendoza (aka Hobo Cane), it can mean international travel, promoting shows, booking musicians, working on setlists, editing music, creating ads, meetings... and still getting up at 6:00 a.m. to make breakfast and take his son to school.

The creative life may begin with inspiration. But it also requires stamina.

As I put it in this week’s Sunday Morning Café reflection: the creative life begins with hard work, ends with hard work, and in the middle is hard work.

“The Cost of Creativity” is now on the blog. The link is in my profile bio.

10/02/2026

On November 8, Javier Mendoza (aka Hobo Cane) will join me at Sunday Morning Café for something a little different. Rather than a traditional concert or lecture, we’ll sit down for a casual conversation exploring creativity through his life, stories, and music.

We’ll talk about cultural identity, vulnerability, hope, healing, human connection, and what it means to create from an authentic place, with songs woven into the conversation and opportunities for you to ask questions and be part of it.

Here’s a taste of the music and the energy he’ll bring to the room: https://youtu.be/1JowtFvEh7U?si=1qOpinN5SJeidnit

As one past SMC attendee put it:

“At this workshop, concert, event, not sure the right word other than amazing, you’ll take a deep breath, connect with fascinating people, focus on what matters, and share vulnerably without fear.”

Join us November 8 for Creating from the Soul: A Conversation in Story & Song.

🎟️ Link to get tickets is in the comments.

© 2026 All Rights Reserved. Javier A. Mendoza / Hobo Cane / BMIFil...