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2. Reihan Salam, “The Burning Woman on the Train — and the Future of My City“:

When I first saw the horrific news pop up on my phone, I was with my small children on the 2 train heading uptown. As the images came through—not long after the flames finally died down—we were on another subway heading to the American Museum of Natural History, one of the most celebrated museums not just in this city, but in any city.

That Sunday spoke to the strange dissonance of living in New York City.

3. Jeff Jacoby, “A woman died in agony as onlookers pressed ‘Record‘”:

I can understand how a bystander on that F train platform, confronted with the fearsome sight of a woman burning alive, might hold back from doing something out of fear of catching fire, or from lack of anything with which to smother the flames, or from sheer paralyzing panic. But to let her burn in order to record a video? That isn’t something people do in order to avoid trouble. It is something people do when they have been warped by a voyeuristic culture that turns them into spectators, and their fellow humans into mere spectacles.

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5. William Galston in the WSJ, “A New Year Isn’t a Blank Slate“:

A familiar maxim cited by Pope John XXIII should guide us: “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.” A well-ordered government can secure unity wherever necessary and liberty whenever possible. But only individuals can provide charity, which requires us to tolerate those whose views differ from ours, and to be slow to attribute malign motives to one another.

Treating others more charitably won’t lead to the perfection of our souls or of our society. But it’s within our power to try, and nothing would do more to bring healing in our troubled times.

6. Darren Whitehead, “The Joy of Missing Out: Lessons from a Church-Wide Digital Detox“:

Our initiative was not just about temporary digital abstinence; it was about modeling how the church can lead in a world dominated by screens. I see the local church as more than a place of worship—it’s a counter-cultural community that stands against the tides of digital conformity. As one congregant noted, “Doing this together made all the difference. If I had tried to do this alone, I would have caved in a week. But seeing my small group also struggling and yet choosing to continue—it made me want to keep going.”

The church’s ability to function as a mediating institution—one that bridges individual and societal needs—makes it an ideal setting for counteracting the formative power of digital technology. Shared faith and commitment create a strong sense of identity and belonging that counters the alienation often felt in the digital age.

7. Jedd Medefind in Christianity Today, “The Orphan Care Movement Grows Up“:

a remarkable number of advocates are still at it. They bear scars, some deep. But there’s a........

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