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Today’s post is a bit different. Once a year I pause to address some of the questions I hear most often from readers.
What’s your writing routine?
I’m not very good at preparing reflections in advance. On most days I spend two or three hours creating the post that I will send out the following day. I record the podcast late in the evening, which is why I sometimes sound a bit froggy. At any given moment I have about 50-60 ideas for future reflections, a number of which have been percolating for years and may never bear fruit. Most of my ideas spring from whatever I happen to be reading, especially in the realms of science and history. “Breaking news” on TV also has a way of inspiring reflections.
Are you getting tired? Are you approaching a point where you can imagine closing up shop?
I’m not there yet. It still feels just as exciting to start working on a new reflection as it did when I began 14 years ago. Now that I’m in my early 70s, it’s obvious that the finish line, whatever that will look like, is getting closer. In the meantime, I’m encouraged by the research that suggests that learning and growing has no age limit. Apparently, you really can teach old dogs new tricks – although, for me, that’s definitely put to the test when it comes to keeping up with new technologies and trends in pop music.
Do you sometimes repeat previous reflections?
Yes, from time to time. Having written almost 3,800 pieces, I often find myself returning to some of the same subjects. If I choose to revisit those posts, I always try to rewrite them in some fashion, if only to connect them with more recent events.
Do you use ChatGPT or another A.I. composition program?
No way. While I am among those who view artificial intelligence as a wonderful asset (and feel hopeful about its future), relying on A.I. to compose reflections feels to me like cheating. I believe readers expect to hear from a living, breathing, fellow disciple, not an algorithm. Besides, doing original thinking is at least half the fun. It will be interesting to see, in the years ahead, if there is a notable revival of interest in “real” letters, sermons, and public presentations. Machines, for all their wonder and complexity, can never replace the musings of a human heart.
Do you have a team that helps produce your daily posts?
I do. First, let’s make it clear all the mistakes, misquotes, and misunderstandings are mine. I can’t believe how often I mindlessly type something like “2026” instead of 1826 or 1926. I’m grateful to the readers who catch such goofs and call them out! I get wonderful tech support from my son Mark, as well as website innovation from J.K. and Megan Stewart of Paired Inc. Marketing and Design.
How many people are on the receiving end of the reflections every morning?
That’s always been hard to say, since so many readers receive each day’s post as a Forward from a subscriber. Our best estimate is somewhere in the neighborhood of 40,000 readers. That takes into account the many folks who acknowledge they regularly send the reflections to family members, friends, and co-workers.
Does that mean I have permission to send them on to others, or to use them in public presentations?
Absolutely. In fact, I hope you feel led to do so. All the reflections are meant to be shared, reposted, or used as illustrations in any context where they might be useful. An insightful author once said that God’s gifts come to us because they are on their way to someone else. I don’t see myself as someone blessed with many “original ideas,” but rather as a gatherer and compiler of some of the useful insights that have come to all of us from God’s people throughout the ages. Morning Reflections are just a way of making some of those insights more widely available.
How’s life on the farm?
It does seem ironic that one of the taunts I heard in childhood really did come true: “Old McDonald had a farm, ee-i-ee-i-o.” I’m old, my name is McDonald, and Mary Sue and I really do live on five country acres not far from Lebanon, Indiana.
So, how many animals now?
We have four horses, all rescues. One is a thoroughbred mare who is retired from the racetrack. The other three are mustangs (two geldings and a mare) – free-range horses from Nevada and Wyoming rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management. Our daughter Katy, a certified trainer, purchased them from the government via online auctions. As noted in a reflection earlier this year, we also share life with 10 cats – five indoors and five who hang out in our barns and beyond. Some of you are no doubt thinking, “That’s nine cats too many.” But we cherish every one of them.
Does this mean you’ve finally discovered country music?
No, not yet. I still lean towards progressive rock and jazz fusion. But there’s something deeply centering about rural living. A friend of mine recently noted that a farm routine has a monastic feel about it. Certain things need to happen at certain hours – day after day after day. We feed the horses, clean the barns, and endeavor to herd the cats. That routine provides a gentle daily structure – a kind of scaffolding or cup to hold God’s grace and the experience of God’s presence.
Is there a new series coming this fall?
Yes! Readers seem to appreciate an occasional month-long exploration of a particular subject. This November we’ll take a Scripture-based look at civility, which is clearly one of the cultural needs of the present hour. Then, in December, we’ll check out some of the symbols of Christmas. A number of those symbols, at first glance, seem rather superficial. But they almost always are connected to something significant concerning the miracle of God becoming a human being.
Have you thought about publishing a collection of past reflections as a stand-alone book?
That’s been a hope for a long time, and last month, at the meeting of the Morning Reflections board, we determined a way forward. Instead of creating a paper-bound book to hold in one’s lap – a project which typically involves considerable investment, distribution issues, and the need to charge for each copy – our plan is to create one or more digital books. These would be full-color volumes, available online and free of charge. Perhaps we will pull together all the reflections from last spring’s series on the Apostles’ Creed, or create a collection of reflections on a given subject such as grace or grief. These books would be easy to access via email or the Morning Reflections website, and thus easy to share with others.
What do you think about the widely documented rise of the Nones in America – the growing number of people who, when asked about religious affiliation, indicate None of the Above?
It’s true that institutional Christianity, with regard to participation, has taken some major hits over the past 30 years. It’s possible that church attendance levels, which fell dramatically during the Covid pandemic, will never fully recover. It’s also true that younger generations have been less inclined, in general, to affiliate with traditional organizations.
Does this represent a significant crisis in American Christianity?
Saying “I’m a None” is not the same thing as saying, “I have no spiritual yearnings.” Americans of all ages seem as interested as ever in experiencing hope, meaning, love, and encounters with God. As Ryan Burge notes in his book The Vanishing Church, participation in mainline Protestant congregations (Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and the like) has been steadily declining. But a number of other Christ-pursuing groups are thriving, and as many as 25% of self-professed American Christians are “going it alone” without regular fellowship (and thus may identify themselves as Nones). Sociologists note that a number of young men are being drawn to either Catholic or Orthodox fellowships, trying out church traditions that are “older than my grandparents.” The bottom line is that the church doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to Jesus. He is watching over his flock right now and will continue to do so, no matter what form it takes in the future.
What happens if I suddenly stop receiving the reflections?
Great question. The most likely scenario is that your computer, because of automatic updates, has shunted the reflections into your junk folder. So always look first at your spam. It’s also possible that you’ve been unsubscribed, either by an accidental keystroke at your end or through the deliberate action of someone to whom you forwarded a reflection. It is required by law that bulk email distributions include a link for unsubscribing. If you forward a post and that person decides, “I don’t really want to receive any more of these” and hits the “unsubscribe” link, they’ve actually just knocked you off the Reflection distribution list. That happens to at least a handful of people every week.
How can I prevent that?
Before you send any forwards, delete the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the post. That is perfectly legal when forwarding emails. And if you yourself want to get back on to the distribution list? Just send me that request at glenn@glennsreflections.com.
Is it possible to contact you personally?
Of course! It’s easy. All you have to do is hit Reply to any reflection, or leave a message in the Contact section of my website – the link appears at the end of every post. I connect with a number of readers every day (including weekends), and I enjoy interacting on a host of subjects.
How are things on the business side of Morning Reflections Inc?
We’re doing well. I can’t thank you enough for your incredible generosity.
Any last thoughts?
There are no words to express what a privilege it is to be part of this ministry. Thanks for reading. Thanks for caring. Thanks for sustaining the hope that by diving into God’s Word together, we can walk with each other day by day, even though most of us will never have the joy of meeting – at least in this world!
Glenn McDonald
September 2026
