It was Christmas Eve, 1914. Along the frozen fields of Flanders, weary soldiers huddled in trenches, bracing for another bitter night of war. For months, they had endured the misery of rain, mud, hunger and relentless fighting. And yet, in that unlikely place, something extraordinary happened.

From the German lines, faint voices began to rise: Stille Nacht. Heilige Nacht. The familiar strains of Silent Night floated across No Man’s Land. British and French soldiers listened in disbelief, then joined in with their own carols.

By morning, men who only hours before had been sworn enemies began to emerge from their trenches. They stepped cautiously into the scarred ground between them, where so many had fallen. But instead of bullets, they extended hands. There, in the open, enemies became brothers for a fleeting moment. They exchanged chocolate, bread, tobacco and small keepsakes. They laughed, told stories and even organized a game of football on the frozen earth. For a brief and miraculous day, the war paused. Enemies stood side by side, united by their shared humanity and the spirit of Christmas.

The Christmas Truce of 1914 remains one of history’s most powerful reminders that even in the darkest of times, peace is possible.

If you recall, last year, opinion media was selling the truly sad idea of not going home for the holidays. Many families experienced the pain of missing family members due to differences. Let me just say, if you have family members, left, right or center, you are blessed. Hug them, welcome them to your table, just as you would welcome a fellow outdoorsman to your campfire. Pour them a drink, reunite, catch up and enjoy a meal together. In a season that too easily gets lost in materialism, remember it isn’t about what’s under the tree, it’s about who’s around it.

From our Hook & Barrel family to yours, Merry Christmas!

John J. Radzwilla
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Beat the Holiday Blues

The holiday season can feel particularly lonely. The quiet solitude that’s often a source of peace during a hunt or a fishing trip can amplify feelings of isolation when others are celebrating with family. The lack of outdoor activities, combined with shorter days and colder weather, can lead to feelings of restlessness and sadness known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is linked to reduced sunlight.

On my first Christmas while deployed when I couldn’t go home, I was surrounded by plenty of people and a solid team, but I felt the underpinnings of loneliness and guilt. As the only son in a tight-knit family, demands from my siblings who didn’t fully understand my responsibilities, along with my own obligation to uphold our traditions, weighed heavily. But duty came first, and as much as I knew I was doing the right thing, the emotional weight of missing my family Christmas left me feeling depressed and uneasy.

Balancing the responsibility of my military service with my family bond was one of the first times I truly felt the strain between personal and professional obligations. It taught me that mental resilience isn’t just about surviving physically, it’s about managing the emotional toll of difficult decisions.

What are we reading?

Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success

Outwitting the Devil is Napoleon Hill's suppressed 1938 manuscript, styled as an interview where he forces the Devil to reveal how he enslaves humanity through fear, procrastination, drift, and manipulation of religion and education. The antidote: definiteness of purpose, self-discipline, and independent thinking—the true secret to freedom and success.