Welcome! You’re receiving this email because —at some point in recent years — you signed up to keep in touch with my words. My name is Paul Gallagher, and I’m a writer living in Melbourne, Australia.
It’s been a long while since I started responding to this mailing list, but better late than never! Thank you so much for signing up, either through my website, Medium or another place where you found my writing.
Finding the right words to tell our stories
In future editions, I am going to share advice, guides and insights to help you communicate better in words and speech. Topics in Making Words Work will include:
the art and trade of writing
crafting and editing words for sharing with others
tips to speak plainly, everywhere!
PLUS: Access to my prose and poetry, and reflections on faith and living on top of multiple sclerosis (MS), not under it!
Why the delay in getting Edition #1?
That’s a long story but has more to do with tackling multiple sclerosis. To say it’s a challenging life is an understatement, but I couldn’t be more thankful for people like YOU in signing up to read more.
As for using a newsletter rather than publishing on my website alone, there are a couple of advantages to this format:
I love writing and this gives me a chance to do what I can, when I can
And it’s a chance to earn a few dollars during sleepless nights when MS pain fights for attention!
This is a free newsletter but you can also pay to read additional premium content. Don’t feel any pressure, though: I’ll still be here, writing, thinking, telling stories.
A little about me: Trust and faith
I’m someone who follows Jesus, the maker and shaper of my life. It means I don’t worry about how He is going to provide for my tomorrow, let alone today. And even more radically, I am deeply faithful that He will heal me one day1. When He does, I’ll let you know.
And if you’re interested in one more way to help me, feel free to share my words somewhere you like.
Footnote: These words of Jesus say it better than I could, taken from Matthew 6:26-34 in the New Living Translation:
‘Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
‘And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
‘So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
‘So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’