It should come as no surprise that the Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year is vax.
But since we've all been consumed in 2021 with vax talk, perhaps you'll want to pause and look back on your life to be sure that it lacks nothing essential. I'm guessing you've performed many acts of kindness, and that you've had the backs of all kinds of people. I hope you're one who cares deeply for those folks who've fallen through the cracks and who rarely if ever get to enjoy life to the max.

Furthermore, let me hope that you have no tolerance for quacks who push disinformation, cheats who skirt tax obligations, disrupters who make pacts with conspiracy theorists, and angry people whose speech smacks of incivility.  

Finally, allow me to thank you for what you do for the Christian Century. We couldn’t provide you with stacks of rich resources all year long without your thoughtful giving. Our pockets are certainly not deep, and the challenging financial facts of religious, nonprofit journalism are ever-present. But we hope the tracks we’ve made in your heart and mind this year have made you thankful for the Century’s presence in your life.

If you haven’t taken the time in 2021 to contribute to the Century to your fullest desire, I hope you still will. The calendar hasn’t yet flipped to 2022. We’d benefit greatly from your generosity. Any gifts received before January 1 are 100% tax-deductible for this year. Thanks again for your faithful support.

With deep gratitude,