nos update, may 09
still fledgling, but no longer hatchling ...
(see the development of our unofficial mascot 'Spoggy')
This past Saturday, May 16th, not one sparrow turned one year old. As alluded to in a recent blog post, anniversaries are often special to me, and this one was especially so. When I think of all the ups and downs of the past year, I'm grateful not one sparrow survived some difficult circumstances. Launching and maintaining an animal advocacy effort in the Christian community was going to be a stretch in the best of times, and Lord knows this year has been far from that. Maybe some of you can relate.
Even so, I'm thankful for the grace which made many positive developments possible: from connections with animal advocates and other communities, to blog contributions from a variety of poignant voices, as well as upgrades to the look and accessibility of the website, and even an opportunity to represent not one sparrow publicly (please read on).
And I'm beyond grateful for the family and friends who have been with me all along, and for the new friends I've been honored to make along the way. You've been such an invaluable source of support and encouragement, and I can't thank you enough. As always, please let me know how not one sparrow can be of better service to you and to the cause. So, I raise my glass of framboise to all of you this first anniversary, and here's to many more to come!
a new look ...
Thanks in large part to another stellar banner by my brother Joshua DeVries, not one sparrow's site has been seasonally updated. A big thanks also goes to Ali Beem, Ben Aldridge, Peter Blom, Cathi Leibforth, Patti Monaghen-Brandt, Jackie Pointer and Amy Sondova for contributing beautiful images to the new slideshow.
Our updates have received a much-needed upgrade as well, courtesy of MailChimp. Aside from the visual boost, you'll be able to manage your subscription more directly. Please let me know if you have any problems receiving or viewing the new format (you can choose HTML or plain text). Updates will still go out at most every 1-2 months, and will still be accessible through our blog and Facebook page as well. Speaking of which, thank you very much to each of you who recently subscribed or became a Facebook fan.
in case you missed it ...
Our blog has hosted a number of poignant postsin recent months by Dan Hooley ("Taking Animals Seriously" and "Meat and the Environment"), Nancy Janisch ("Why Don't We Care?" and "On 'Bo' Obama"), Stephanie Muzekari ("Silent Tears, Friends of Adam"), Karen Swallow Prior ("It Takes a Village"), Jonathan Samuelson ("Eat and Be Eaten"), Tracy Simmons ("The Rescue Parade"), MeLissa Webber ("Following God into an Animal Shelter") and the art of Tracey Clarke. A very sincere thanks goes to each of them. There is much else worth checking out as well, including our 100th blog post on a mesmerizing wildlife video by Ray Paunovich.
it wouldn't be a newsletter without ...
If you've read this far, thank you, and for letting not one sparrow have a small part in your concern for God's creatures. I hope to keep doing my best to coordinate and develop the effort, content and outreach, but I really need help doing so. Not only prayer and collaboration, which are truly needed and appreciated, but also some form of part-time financial support as I look to care for my family, which is growing by one in a few weeks (future animal advocate in waiting?). I've graciously received about 10-15% of what I anticipate needing (please feel free to contact me for further details and accountability), but have a ways to go. A mailing address as well as a PayPal link are available, but regardless of whether you can respond in this way now or in the future, thank you for standing alongside me.
roll credits ...
Before signing off, some final thanks go out for recent posts on not one sparrow, and some additional generous connections made: Nekeisha Alexis-Baker and Jesus Radicals, Eric Beach and The Brew Mag, Michelle Buckalew and Wisconsin Week for the Animals, Gracia Fay Ellwood and The Peaceable Table, Michael Iafrate and Catholic Anarchy, Br. Tom Murphy and Mr. Wendell Berry of Kentucky, Ruth and The Claws Connection, Trinity Magazine, Veda and All Creatures, and Zandra Wagoner and Interreligious Voices for Animal Compassion. If I missed anyone, I do apologize, and I apologize for not doing this sooner.
grace and peace,
Ben DeVries
(images copyright 123rf.com and not one sparrow)
May 21, 2009
Reader Comments (2)
Congrats on one year, Ben!
Thanks much, Tracy ... Ben