Big Decisions
Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief
Let’s face it: America has been going through it lately. We’re watching conflicts unfold in the Middle East, tensions rise across the border with Canada, and divisions deepen at home from left to right.
On a smaller scale, Michigan has some big decisions of its own to make. Our freshwater resources are becoming increasingly important—and increasingly coveted—while data centers continue to make their way into conversations about development in our rural communities.
Then there are the biggest decisions of all: the ones we make as voters. With the midterm elections just weeks away, we’ve brought you the candidates’ positions and laid them out in a side-by-side comparison. Our goal is to give you the information you need to make the decisions that are right for you and your loved ones.
Not every decision carries the weight of an election. Sometimes, the choices we make are about how we remember, what we celebrate, and what we carry forward.
This month, the community mourns the passing of “Chef Carl” Hakim, a fixture at Market Basket of Franklin who fed generations of families and became part of their memories. At the same time, we celebrate Jonathan Elias, aka “The Pastry Guru,” whose beautiful sugar art has earned him a third appearance on the Food Network.
In Cakes with a Whisk, we meet Crystal Delly, who turned a business opportunity into something more: a place where families and friends can learn a new skill, spend time together and, quite literally, touch hearts with cake.
October also brings Halloween, and with it a distinctly American tradition that has a complicated place in the Christian faith. We explore the Church’s perspective on the holiday and share practical safety tips from our friends at the West Bloomfield Police Department for trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities.
Our exploration of faith and heritage continues with the history of the Ancient Church of the East and Part II of Dr. Miri’s Christians in Nineveh. We also look back at Iraqi history through the poetry of one of its most celebrated sons, Al-Mutanabbi, and his famous poem “My Heart is a Flame.”
Preserving culture also means finding new ways to keep old traditions alive. The new KonKan app gives family and friends across the diaspora a way to play a classic favorite together, no matter how far apart they may be.
Chaldeans have always taken pride in their culture and the role their people have played in history. In Iraq Today, CN’s Hanan Qia sits down with Klodia Hanna, a Chaldean celebrity and former Miss Arab World, who is helping keep that history and heritage visible for a new generation.
Sometimes, big decisions are simply about choosing not to give up. We celebrate two young Michigan athletes, Lexa Hindo and Mario Marougi, who faced serious injuries and made the difficult decision to work their way back to the sports they love.
Finally, we take a look into the archive for a collection of fall memories—a reminder that, in the end, the moments we choose to hold onto become the stories we pass down.
There are big decisions all around us. Some will shape our communities and our country. Others shape our families, our faith, and our culture in quieter ways. This month, we invite you to consider both—and the choices we make about what matters and what endures.
Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief
Corrections
In the September 2026 issue, the article “Still Striding for Seminarians” incorrectly stated that Adriana Mansour was 11 years old when the accident occurred. She was 10.
Additionally, a photo caption in the article incorrectly identified John Mansour’s brother Marvin as his brother Steve. We regret the errors.