Letter from the Publisher

Having grown up in the heart of Dixie and the middle of the Bible belt in Alabama, I have heard more than my share of sermons about the unmitigated power of prayer. Now, it is important to know that I am firmly convinced that through prayer many miracles can happen. I need look no further than the faces of my children to understand that prayers are indeed answered each and every day. But, I have always tried to balance my belief in prayer with a strong sense of feeling that God will help those who help themselves. This has been a delicate balancing act and I am always looking for just the right combination of faith and effort. I recently heard a story from one of my good friends that June forever solve the dilemma for me.My friend is a college coach in his mid-fifties, who grew up in the Bronx. His family was first generation Italian and, like virtually every Italian family I know, his