The sentences, ideas, and insights worth pausing on.
September 2026
Presence has been the theme for me this past month. Not simply the physical presence, but emotional, experienced, tangible and empowering kind.
Throughout September, I have returned time and again to the theme of presence. I have experienced it in my relationships, my reading and my daily practices.
What has also stood out to me are our inner lives, the passage of time and community.
First, Tyler Stanton writes that “your inner world is not a mirror image of your environment.” He goes on to write that “we create an environment that mirrors our inner life.” (Living Like Monks, Praying Like Fools, 2022)
Second, Ane Riel’s character Jens comes to the realisation “that time had a way of rolling away from you. And he couldn’t bring himself to teach his daughter that lesson.” (Resin, 2019)
Finally, Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz argue that “today’s most valuable currency is social capital,” which they define through the information, expertise, trust and value that exist within our relationships and the social networks to which we belong. (Never Eat Alone, 2005)
We each have a choice in how we are present in our inner world, with our friends and family, and within the communities we associate with. How we are present in these areas has a significant impact on our lives, and on the value, hope and life we bring to the world.
Recommendations
Read
Cheering You On: Encouraging words when life gets hard by Celina Evelyn Mina (2026). This is the perfect gift book to gift to someone who needs encouragement, but it is also an act of sharing your presence.
Also available in Danish – Hepper På Dig: Opmuntrende ord når livet er svært. Available via Amazon.
Watch
Remarkably Bright Creatures starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman this is a movie adaptation of the 2022 book by Sally Van Pelt. Tova, played by Field, delicately portraits what it looks like to be present whilst being anchored in the past.
Listen
An Evening with Patrick Radden Keef at the Sydney Writers’ Festival 2026. I admire Radden Keef’s storytelling skills and passion for research which immediately makes you as the reader present in the story. This is a great conversation to learn more about how he writes and him personally.
The Gift of Presence
Presence has been on my mind this past month.
What it means to truly be present, why being present with ourselves and God matters, and how our presence can become a gift to others.
From meaningful conversations to a rather competitive game of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Top Trumps, I’ve been noticing the small moments where presence makes a difference.
I explore the idea in this month’s thought piece, The Gift of Presence.
Book of the Month
Be Where You Are by Ed Ley (2026)
I am not a CEO, and the highest corporate position I have held is head of a department, so you might wonder why my Book of the Month is a book written for CEOs. And you’d be right to wonder.
First and foremost, I read this book because my friend wrote it. But I also heard a principle some time ago that said, “You don’t just lead down; you lead up as well.” I’d add that we also lead alongside those we work with. So, with that in mind, I found plenty here that was relevant to me.
In Be Where You Are, I really appreciate the way Ed takes you on a journey with him and “Jacob”, the CEO at the centre of the story. It offers an incredible insight into the work Ed does as he coaches CEOs, founders and senior leaders, helping them move from near burnout towards a healthier and more thriving life.
Often, business books or memoirs neatly tell us what to do or what the author did. It is much rarer to get to journey alongside someone and see behind the scenes. Ed does this through Jacob’s story.
Ed explains that Jacob is a composite character, bringing together experiences from leaders he has worked with over the past 20 years. As a result, it is easy to recognise yourself, or perhaps someone you know, in Jacob’s experiences. For me, this brings both reassurance and awareness: reassurance that some of the pressures we experience are shared by others, and awareness of where we might be on our own journey.
Practical, honest and challenging, Be Where You Are is a valuable read for senior leaders, but I think there is something here for anyone who wants to grow in how they lead — whether that is down, up or alongside them.
Question:
Who helps you to lead well? Do you have a coach or mentor, and if so, how often do you meet?
Previous editions
August 2026
Dödevi, Sweden 🇸🇪
Courage has been the unexpected theme for me this past month. Not simply the courage to step into the unknown, but the courage to reconsider what I thought I already knew.
In reading about the life of Hudson Taylor and attending a symposium at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen, I found myself being stirred to believe and hope for more courageously.
Living longer does offer many opportunities and adventures, but it also means reaching points where we need the courage to reconsider what we thought we knew. Recently, the works of Bruce Pascoe and N. T. Wright have been a catalyst for this reexamination for me.
There is also courage required when starting a new role or embracing a new season of life. To step into the unknown with all that you know, to acknowledge what you understand and what you don’t, and to take the next right step.
Perhaps this is what courage looks like: not the absence of fear or uncertainty, but the willingness to keep moving forward with hope.
As I have encountered this more deeply this past month, I have returned to the words of Deuteronomy 31:6:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Recommendations
Read
Hudson Taylor; The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall (1929). This book is an excellent introduction into the life and ministry of Taylor and includes many examples of his personal correspondence.
Watch
Death on the Nile (available on Netflix, 2022) based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie. A great cast, an excellent storyline, and beautifully shot. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery.
Listen
The Rest is Entertainment podcast hosted by Marina Hyde and Richard Osman and excellent paring.(Produced by Goalhanger and available on Apple Podcasts and YouTube). This podcast is a treat. Full of information about the entertainment world, commentary contemporary topics, and delightful insights.Human Stories
An empty chair full of memories. A painting that has witnessed thousands of interactions.
Neither began their story in our home. The chair once belonged to Hotel Hebron in Copenhagen (Denmark), while the painting came from Öland (Sweden).
Before they became part of our home, they belonged somewhere else. They were part of other people’s stories.
Two sentences have been circling in my mind this month.
“The human stories that matter are those that endure”.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2013, p. 84)
“But while one can physically turn back a clock’s hand with a finger, one can never stop time from pressing ahead.”
Taiwan Travelogue by Shih-Li Kow (2026, p.221)
I have been thinking about what we do with the stories we witness and the lives we observe and two things have stayed with me.
The stories we witness
Stories entrusted to us need to be treated kindly. We need to know when a story is ours to share, and when it is ours simply to treasure.
Some stories become part of the lore of our lives, while others become warnings, and hopefully some encourage us. But all of them ask something of us: to handle another person’s story with care.
The lives we observe
In the lives of others, we often see ourselves reflected back to ourselves.
The better response is neither to judge the life we are observing nor to judge our reflected selves. Instead, perhaps we can look for one or two things that speak hope and courage into our own day.
Human stories are powerful.
Whether you find yourself carrying memories from people who have shaped you, witnessing someone’s world change, or simply sitting in a chair that has already been part of thousands of conversations, remember this:
You are not only a witness and observer of other people’s stories. Your life is also becoming a story that someone else may carry with them.
So perhaps this calls us to live well, live fully, and live kindly.
Book of the Month
Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe (2014, Magabala Books)
Some books entertain us. Others quietly reshape how we see the world.
I grew up in Australia at a time when everyday racism towards First Nations peoples was common. As a result, I developed my own assumptions and biases, many of which I felt were confirmed by the media and by those around me.
Some of these began to shift when I moved to Sydney to complete a Bachelor of Theology with Alphacrucis University College.
Firstly, I met one of the first Aboriginal people I had ever encountered. She challenged some of my assumptions simply by being a person rather than an idea I had formed about Aboriginal people.
Secondly, I began meeting First Nations pastors who were incredibly passionate about the Church and who were moved and led powerfully by the Holy Spirit. These encounters continued to reshape my understanding.
Now, almost 20 years later, my thinking has been reshaped again through reading Dark Emu.
Pascoe challenges the way Australian history has traditionally portrayed First Nations societies, particularly the idea that they were primarily nomadic hunter-gatherers who made little or no deliberate use of the land. Drawing on historical accounts and other evidence, he presents a much more complex picture of agricultural practices, land management, food production and settled communities.
It has made me reconsider not only what I was taught about Australia, but also how easily assumptions can become accepted as knowledge simply because they are repeated often enough.
If you read anything about Australia this year, it should be Dark Emu.
Question:
What book have you read that changed the way you see a part of your world?
July 2026
Cinque Terra, Italy 2026
The first half of 2026 has been marked by new beginnings and one big ending.
Over the past six months, four very different projects have moved from ideas and conversations to becoming a reality. Watching them develop has reminded me that increasingly we are recognised not simply for our qualifications or years of experience, but for the skills we bring and the value we create.
Each of these projects has been an opportunity to contribute in a different way. I’ve begun hosting men’s guided silent retreats, helped establish the Ark School of Prayer, a nine-month formation program for young adults, launched PLACED, a Christian network connecting professionals in and around Copenhagen, and finally migrated my reading life from Goodreads (owned by Amazon) to StoryGraph.
Each has stretched me, taught me something new, and reminded me that meaningful work often begins with a simple invitation to serve.
Recommendations
Watch
Our Oceans – a five part series on Netflix about our planets oceans narrated by Barak Obama. Interesting, informative and entertaining. Perfect to watch with the whole family.
Read
Pentecostalism; A very short introduction by William K. Kay (2011). This primer is a must read for any leader of a Pentecostal church and anyone simply wanted to understand the key moments of its development.
Listen
Dish – This podcast sits at the intersection of cooking and prominent people’s journey with food. A funny and unfiltered podcast hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angel Hartnell. (Available on Spotify, Apple, and Youtube).
Men’s Retreats
For almost twenty years, retreats (both individual and with others) have been part of my spiritual journey.
Late last year, my life group worked through John Mark Comer’s study on Silence and Solitude (Right Now Media). As part of the experience, we were encouraged to step away and spend intentional time with God on retreat.
That simple invitation sparked something in me. It led to months of reading, reflecting, planning, and eventually creating my own guided silent retreat for men.
Of all the books I read, Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence by Ruth Haley Barton (2021, SPCK) shaped my thinking the most. It reminded me that retreat isn’t about escaping life but it is about creating space to notice God’s presence and allowing Him to gently reshape our hearts.
Looking back, I realised retreats have quietly formed part of my Christian life for many years. They have become a rhythm that helps me slow down, listen well, and return to everyday life with greater clarity and peace. That’s why I’ve created a page sharing more about the retreats I now host.
So let me leave you with a question:
When was the last time you intentionally stepped away to be with God? And if you haven’t yet planned one, could the second half of 2026 be the right time to begin?
Book of the Month
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (2019, Penguin Books)
Some books entertain us. Others quietly reshape how we see the world.
Girl, Woman, Other, winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, was one of those books for me. It deepened my sense of compassion and empathy by inviting me into lives and experiences I may never otherwise have encountered. This is one of the great gifts of fiction; it expands our understanding of people beyond our own experiences.
Each character is written with remarkable depth and authenticity. Their stories feel less like fictional narratives and more like glimpses into real lives. As the novel unfolds and the connections between the characters emerge, Bernardine Evaristo’s storytelling is both subtle and masterful.
As a side note, I’m currently reading my way through the winners of the International Booker Prize. A journey that continues to introduce me to voices, cultures, and perspectives from around the world.
A gentle note: this novel explores several sensitive themes, so it’s worth checking the content before reading if that’s important to you.
Question: What’s been your book of the month for July?
June 2026
Tuborg badebord, Denmark 2026
Made and being made has been a theme running through my days since my last letter to you. It has shown up in birthdays, anniversaries, and adventures with new connections.
Perhaps this is because life is never static. Each day asks us to choose how we engage with ourselves and the world around us. Birthdays remind us of our arrival in the world and of the life still unfolding before us. Anniversaries mark how far we’ve come while pointing us toward what remains ahead. And adventures remind us that there is always more to experience, discover, and explore.
To sustain this tension between being made and still being made requires faith: faith that there is goodness ahead of us, and faith that we have not yet arrived. The journey continues not through grand leaps, but by taking the next step.
Recommendations
Watch
Fisk – An ABC tv series where you follow a long with a small cast who are being (hilariously) made. (Available on Netflix and ABC iView)
Read
The Death of Trotsky by Josh Ireland. Exceptional detail, filled to the brim with interesting characters, extensive insight into Soviet Unions approach to espionage, and the death of Trotsky.
Listen
Joshua Luke Smith – A songwriter, community builder, podcaster and author.
Cooking adventures
In 2009, the movie Julie and Julia was follows the twin stories of Julie Powell, a claims office worker, cooking her way through Julie Childs cook book, and Julia becoming one of USA most renown chefs. Both stories of ‘being made’.
Over the past few months I have embarked on a similar journey to Julie, I have been cooking my way through The Happy Pear Vegan Cooking for everyone (2020) by twins David and Stephen Flynn. They are so joyful and passion for great food and healthy living.
So often cookbooks sit on our shelves and we drop in an out of them, and maybe your bit like me they are getting neglected as we search the internet and get assistance with the random things in our fridges with an AI tool.
What is your favourite cookbook?
Book of the Month
Terrific book cover many many stories of encountering the power, mercy and grace of God, the empowered by the Holy Spirit and power of serving your local church and community.
Jim Cymbala through Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (1997) shows what the Holy Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the gospel. He shares from many years of ministry and personal experience, and additionally includes some touching and miraculous stories that will stir your faith from within his Church community.
This book is an antidote for all of us who have become complacent, distracted, and dull in our faith.
March 2026
Torekov, Sweden 2026
‘Character’ has been the red thread through the month of March for me. Showing up in what I have been watching, reading, and people I have been spending time with.
From Carla Rockmore humorously helping through her videos, to the decisions Tara Selter makes in the Volume of Calculation, to the friends and family who gathered around meals this Easter, and of course the character of Christ. All of this has reminded me how in our increasingly digital world ‘who we are’ really matters and the potential impact our lives can have.
Another place ‘character’ has been pronounced for me is from my visits to the local library. The staff and patrons provide an amazing cross section of society all gathered in once place with a variety of motivation and purpose.
Where is the theme of ‘character’ turning up in your life right now?
Recommendations
Watch
Carla Rockmore – Sharing fashion inspiration and joy into your browser.
Read
The Booker Prize newsletter – Great insights into this year nominees, stories behind the stories, monthly spotlights, and much more.
Listen
Deep Focus playlist by Spotify – perfect playlist for focusing on desk-based activities.
Reading Goals
Do you have a reading goal for 2026? Whether that be a number of books, completing a series, or reading from a specific author? Perhaps you’re finish that book you started 10 years ago (Hello, ‘Start With Why’ sorry Simon).
One that I have set for my self this year is to read a book from by an Author from every Nordic country. I have received great advice from my local bookshop and library.
To this end I have started the series ‘Calculation of Volume’ by Solvej Balle (superbly translated by Barbara J. Haveland). The first two books have been a masterclass in character and not just Balle’s development of the character but who we are when no one is looking.
Book of the Month
Backward forwards, backwards forwards, forwards goes this story. You’re both catching up and being caught up as your journey with the Conroy family.
This story is centred around a house, ‘The Dutch House’ and the three generations of the Conroy family, and those intimately connected to them, and the house. We see the family expand and contract and yet the house remains the same. Always calling to them.
Through Patchett’s excellent writing your welcomed into and behind the scenes of three generations successes and failures, love and loss, and hurt and healing.
I think on balance you’re left content for the Conroy family in the end.