Genre - nonfiction, self help, inspiration

Sarah Bessey has been a guide and mentor for me on my own journey through the wilderness - through social media and her other books. She doesn’t know me, but I feel like I do her. Her creation of Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith in the epistolary form does nothing to lessen that. Her conversational tone (eh?) welcomes the reader lovingly. Sarah taps into her most difficult life and faith experiences and creates a guide for others, creating a beautiful metaphor of a journey through the wilderness. She creates a conversation using these metaphors that elevate her words to a kind of poetry. She doesn’t offer certainty, but rather gently suggests practices that might help others who find their faith changing as well - just like a friend might.

Along with the letter style, I appreciate how Sarah uses each chapter to reclaim the aspects of faith that many whose faith may be changing feel that they might be losing. She focuses on peace, love, hope, lament, sacrament, and repentance among other things. Often, it seems, when people are finding a new way to experience worship, others will tell them they are less worthy, perhaps, to receive love and experience hope - that perhaps they are in more need of repentance than ever. Words and ideas that have been woven into the fabric of faith are being torn away or abused. For me, I love how Sarah helps the wanderer reclaim these. Sarah’s assurances are rooted in scripture and study. As a retired English teaching librarian, I love a book supported with a good set of research and references.

She challenges the reader to move through the journey even while recognizing that the journey might never end. I think even before this book, I was grateful to Sarah for meeting me there. I could easily stop in a world where I am focused on what I am against. I value the profound reminder to remember to be for something. Such a reminder requires forward progress.

Sarah focuses on faith, but offers insight for all kinds of changes. I am navigating many right now, and her words bring me comfort as I walk. Field Notes for the Wilderness is a book to read, mark up, and reread. Publishes on 2/20/2024. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC to review.