The birth of hope.

Once a month the staff of U.S. CATHOLIC meets to hash out titles and art for the stories in the next issue. Because most of our work is solitary in nature--reading, writing, editing, proofing, and designing--this meeting is a bright spot on the calendar, three or four hours of loud creativity and camaraderie. We sit around the long table in our library and talk about the articles we're running, bounce ideas off each other, catch up on church news and movies and vacation plans over a halftime lunch, and generally have a good time.

A more somber meeting than usual, however, preceded the issue you're holding. We started brainstorming for our cover story, J. Peter Nixon's "The other half of the story: Men and abortion" (pages 12-17) and moved to Sally Leighton's essay, "I will raise you up" (pages 40-42). Coming up with titles and art that convey the emotional and spiritual aftermath of abortion and the harrowing grief that follows the death of a child was challenging and hardly fun. Because my husband and I were awaiting the birth of our first child a few weeks later, I felt especially distressed reading these two pieces. And thinking about reading these sad stories in bleak February made it even worse.

But shards of hope glimmer amid the gloom. In Nixon's piece Father Mike Mannion wisely observes: "The ultimate issue is how much the individual believes in God as creator with the power to heal." The healing and redemption that the parents in Leighton's essay experience echo that insight.

On second thought, February might be the perfect time to focus on these difficult topics. It's the beginning of Lent, after all--time for reflection and penitence and prayer. Gabe Huck's "Get hungry for Lent" (pages 18-22) looks at fasting, almsgiving, and prayer as spiritual exercises that whet our appetite for the reign of God.

Lent caught me offguard this year when it arrived early in the form of our art and title meeting. I hope it doesn't surprise you in a similar manner. In the 40 days ahead, may you be blessed with the fortitude to face crises with compassion and with the strength to address weaknesses and failures, both individual and communal. Let's hunger for transformation and healing and wholeness so much that in the midst of our brokenness we reach out to others and do something about it.

And let's remember that we are, indeed, an Easter people. We have faith that even our saddest stories will have a happy ending.

Editors' note: Heather and her husband, Kevin, welcomed Evelyn Clare Gary on December 9. Mom and baby are doing great.