Could I trouble you for an opinion?

It's been a while since you weighed in about the state of things here

Hi friends,

This week is a big departure from our usual Field Notes but it’s for a good reason: I would love to gather up your opinions about the state of the newsletter, yourselves, and beyond.

It’s been more than three years since we last did a reader survey here and well, things have changed for many of us, to put it mildly. Plus we’ve added so many new subscribers since then (welcome!¹ we’re so glad you’re here!).

I do pour a lot of time and energy into this newsletter, but it’s all for nothing if it isn’t serving you well. I’m genuinely interested to know what is working, what isn’t working, more about you as readers, that sort of thing. And I’d particularly love your input as I’m planing the rest of the year in regards to future devotional series…and a few other fun projects…. as you’ll see in the questions…

Basically: this is your week to come tell me all the things.

I was going to title this “come spill the tea” but we all know that would be too much cringe from me so I shall spare you. Ah well. We can’t all be cool.

I will personally read every single word and take your input seriously (without getting my feelings hurt, promise - that’s why God gave us therapists) as I begin to dream and discern about what’s next here and elsewhere.

Here’s the link to our survey for all Field Notes subscribers.²

And as a thank you for your input, I’ll select five random responses to each receive a signed copy of my latest book Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for An Evolving Faith along with her companion Guided Journal! (USA, UK, and Canadian addresses only, I’m afraid.) We’ll pick those random winners in a week or so and notify the winners through the email address provided.

I have always wanted Field Notes to be more than “one more author self-promoting email” or sponsored-content-influencer-stuff in your inbox. I hope this space is a genuine source of goodness, thoughtful writing, interesting content, and perhaps even an online friend alongside of your own journey. Your responses here will help me out a lot in that work. Say as much or as little as you like.

I am deeply grateful for the space we’ve carved out here together. Thanks for signing up for this newsletter, I appreciate it more than I can say.

I love writing for you,

S.

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P.S. One of my own pet peeves is being asked for opinions but never hearing how/if they mattered or fit with the general response so I will make sure to share the high-level responses with you so that you can take a peek behind the curtain on this one. Watch for that in the coming weeks.

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ICYMI Recent Field Notes:

• An Update: Penny in the Air: Because people should never be the collateral damage of your theology

• Gaza: I don’t know if bearing witness, if keeping my soul tender, if loving each other even from far away is enough, it probably isn’t, but I want to believe it is something anyway.

• A Blessing for Our Graduate: You have nothing to prove and nothing to earn, you are already so loved.

• The beginner's guide to Doctor Who: For the tens of you who asked

• In which an angry encounter leads to a few thoughts on metaphors and motherhood: Could my experiences as a woman and a mother be included in how we speak or think about God?

• That Jezebel Spirit: Or, pulling the trusty old soapbox out of storage

1. If this is your first edition of Field Notes, sorry for the housekeeping nature of this one - please go check out the archives if you want a proper Field Notes experience with the usual type of content.

2. If that button link didn’t work for you, here’s another one to copy + paste into your address bar. https://forms.gle/rd9HcuGzJcbv2SSf9