From editorial director of news Kate Shellnutt: Many of us are still waiting for the new November/December issue of CT to arrive in our mailboxes, but as of this week, the issue’s contents are available online—including the feature from Brad East linked in today’s newsletter.
 
Producing a magazine like ours involves a lot of waiting. A story I edited in this issue began as a pitch in my inbox back in March. It took months for the writer to report it, to send me a draft, and to make her way through edits. Copy edits, design, and proofing took weeks more. Then we waited for the printer to publish and mail the magazine and for our online team to prep the stories for the website. We call the online release day our “go live” day.
 
After all this waiting, I click over to the issue, and the first thing I see is the cover image, a kind of nativity scene glowing in front of a dark skyline. And, as corny as it sounds, I remember the season of waiting that is ahead of us and the joy that follows our hope and longing.
 
If you’re a print subscriber, let us know when you get the issue—you can tag @ct_mag on Instagram—and if you have a favorite feature this time.