I drove across the Flint Hills and found myself unexpectedly awash in winter light. On Highway 177 in Chase County I passed ...

Her name was Janet. She died a few years ago but her voice and her gift of hope remains with me. As we watch what is unfolding to the south of us we can feel the darkness creeping over the continent.

Have you noticed there seems to be an increasing feeling of angst in the world today? There’s more anxiety, depression, and even increased suicide rates. These things can happen when people ...

Holding onto hope, they admit, is their only option; the alternative is to be trapped in darkness. For the hostages and their families, the darkness is not metaphorical; it is their reality.

However, hope is not immune to the corrosive effects of despair and disillusionment. In times of crisis, when the world seems shrouded in darkness, maintaining hope can feel like an uphill battle.