A sigh is an audible exhalation of breath—a groan, an expression of sadness, grief, yearning, resignation, or frustration. Why do we sigh?

Usually, a negative mood motivates a sigh, though sighs can also be a simple expression of relief. When we have negative emotions, our brain may trigger the release of “sigh neuropeptides” that cause us to sigh. Scientists suggest that a sigh might serve as a “reset button” for the respiratory system.

The title of a recent New York Times Magazine article read like a stark announcement: “The Insect Apocalypse Is Here” (November 27, 2018). The article describes the devastating loss of insect populations around the globe in recent decades. According to research cited in the article, Monarch butterfly populations in the U.S. have declined by 90 percent in the last 20 years. The rusty-patched bumblebee has declined by 87 percent during the same period.

Demonstrations over higher fuel taxes have resulted in riots in Paris (Deutsche Welle, December 3, 2018). Demonstrations have spread all over France, with hundreds of thousands participating.

"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." — Proverbs 22:3

Recently, Hurricane Michael pummeled the Gulf coast and the Mid-Atlantic states, causing widespread property damage and loss of life. On the heels of that, Northern California has experienced the worst fire season on record. Firefighters and rescue efforts are overwhelmed, with some small towns facing complete devastation. The loss of life is staggering, with hundreds of people still missing. Wildfires have raced through the bone-dry hills and valleys, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds—an unusual phenomenon in that area.