April 2026 A long line of starving people stretched into the street while they waited for bread to be distributed from one of the only bakeries still open in Sarajevo. The sound of  nearby  explosions and gunfire kept them alert, but their hunger kept them in the line. At exactly 4 pm, May 27, 1992, a mortar shell fell directly into the middle of the line, killing 22 people and sending flesh, blood, bone and rubble indiscriminately over the area.   When Vedran Smailovic heard the explosion...

March 2026 When disaster strikes, human beings help those most vulnerable to despair through a variety of    actions. We rush to the scene with offers to help, or give money so needs can be met. Our assistance might be a meal brought to a home or just sitting with someone who has experienced significant loss.   But we must not minimize or forget to do what our critics call “senseless, magical thinking;” we must remember to pray , which keeps alive the watchfires of faith on dark and dreary...

February 2026 One of the most difficult choices to make can be choosing joy  when life becomes unstable and unpredictable. Yet, the   believer whose faith has endured decades of disappointments and          setbacks has learned to guard his or her mind from the dark recesses of despair when things get  really tough. The prophet Jeremiah acknowledged the depths of his     sorrow as he witnessed the sacking of Jerusalem, his beloved city . He did not pretend he was not grieving  – “My soul is...