Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it. (Genesis 28:16)

The wonder and awe Jacob expressed when he woke up from a dream has always inspired me to look with wonder in ordinary places. Could God be here, sitting in construction traffic? Could God be here, at the dog park? Could God be here, in the ER? Too often we seek out meaningful spiritual experiences that we miss what is right in front of us, directly under our feet.

It’s one thing to notice with wonder, it’s another to record, reflect, and respond to your observations. This is where field notes come in.

Field notes are raw observations and insights that researchers record while they are doing fieldwork. It may be lists, detailed description, sketches, or other notes. The purpose of field notes is to serve as the foundational data for research analysis, a creative process, or in the case of faith formation, a memory support as one reflects on the presence of God during their day.

This summer, I plan to set aside time each day to jot down observations and reflect on where God might be throughout each ordinary day. I will weave in insight from Barbra Brown Taylor’s book, An Altar in the World, introducing faith practices each week through the online blog.

Will you join me in paying devoted attention no matter where you are this summer? Surely, God is in this place, and we will know it.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jenny