Welcome to the Editor’s Letter for June
A month of Extreme Heat, Book Sales and Viral Articles
Welcome to the June edition of the Sacred & Secular newsletter.
This update comes to you from a sweltering United Kingdom, where temperatures have recently nudged close to 40°C. For someone living with chronic fatigue, I can honestly say this month has been my most challenging yet. All the more reason why I feel a little proud that I’ve managed to keep writing every single day.
Some of you will know that I also write on a platform called Medium. In fact, many of you found your way here because of it. My Medium articles tend to be a little less personal and a little more exploratory, whereas these reflections are where I share more of the journey itself.
Midway through June, one of my Medium articles, about Jesus walking on water, went viral. It is still being recommended to new readers even now. This is the first time I have experienced anything like that, and I can honestly say it was both a blessing and a curse.
It was a blessing because I am deeply grateful for the income it generated and for the many new readers who discovered my work. But it also brought an unexpected pressure. For several days afterwards, I felt as though I had to produce another viral article immediately. Thankfully, that feeling has now passed, and normal writing has resumed. I have remembered that faithfulness matters far more than chasing statistics.
June was also a significant month because I finally launched my Sacred & Secular book. The response has exceeded my expectations, and I want to thank everyone who has bought a copy, left a review, or shared their thoughts. Hearing how the book has encouraged you has been one of the highlights of my month. It has even inspired me to start thinking about a second volume… perhaps when the weather is a little cooler!
The articles I write here are intentionally different. My hope is that they give you permission to pause for a few minutes each day, find a cosy corner, and spend some time reflecting on the journey of faith that we all share. Thank you so much for allowing me to accompany you in those moments. It remains a privilege to be part of your daily reading.
June has also been a record month for us here at Sacred & Secular HQ. I have also welcomed many new paid subscribers, and if you’re one of them, a very warm welcome. Your support makes this work possible. I continue to publish at least one free reflection each week for everyone, while paid subscribers receive a new reflection every day.
As we head into July, I’d love to hear from you.
What topics have you found most helpful recently? Is there a passage of Scripture you’ve always wondered about? Or is there a question about faith, life, or the Bible that you’d like me to explore in a future reflection?
Thank you, as always, for reading, commenting, sharing these reflections, and encouraging me along the way. Your kindness, thoughtful comments, and support mean far more than you probably realise.
Wherever July finds you, I hope you find moments of rest, curiosity, and God's quiet presence in the ordinary. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.
Sacred & Secular: Finding God in the Ordinary is out now via Amazon.
If you are not yet a paid subscriber to the Sacred & Secular community, I would love to welcome you.
We are getting unusual extreme heat here in Canada, which is significantly harder on the young and old. You have my empathy!
Regarding subjects I'd like you to write about are the Gnostic gospels or writings that have only now caught my attention. I am less impressed than many people appear to be. However, I wonder if other thoughtful and experienced Christians with some theological and/or philosophical background have similar questions and reservations. I have dipped into The Secret Book of John, The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Phillip, and The Gospel of Mary. On the other hand, you are on a roll with the cannon of orthodoxy, so don't be lured off your present trajectory. You likely already have come to terms with that library and not consider it worth your time to give notes.