Analyzing Palmer's 'Now I Became Myself'

In the fourth chapter of Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak entitled All the Way Down, Palmer is addressing and discussing clinical depression and the discoveries he made during this time. Disconnection and mystery are both explicitly covered to accurately explain the run and feeling of depression for the individuals that have never experienced the disorder. One of the main ideas that is addressed is that one of the only ways to get out of depression is to use knowledge of the heart and the choices that lead to wholeness are expressive of personal truth rather than calculated and intended to achieve a goal.

Through my passions and experiences with people, as well as study, I am convinced that God has given me the desire and gifts to serve Him through discipling others. Ideally, I plan to work with young adults as they commonly need, and want, answers to questions of identity, truth, apologetics, and relationships, with Jesus and others. These are all things I am passionate about. I am committed to helping others experience God’s love, nurture their spiritual development, enable them to discover their spiritual gifts, and equip them for effective

The one thing many people do not talk about is vocation. Gordon T. Smith declares there are three different forms of vocation. First is the general call which is the invitation to follow Christ. Second is the specific call, this is unique to each person and can be classified as their mission in this world. Third is the immediate responsibilities; these are the task God requires of us daily (p. 10). As a Christian, one's vocation is their response to God; their call is to serve Him in life and reflect who He is to others, no matter the stage of life they are in or the occupations they are call to pursue. Occupations may change through life, but the vocational call remains consistent despite the

of achieving our purpose in life can be a daunting but awarding task. Christopher McCandless

Parker Palmer and the Legend of Bagger Vance both connect with one another to better further our understanding of the vocational method. Palmer’s definition of vocation contains three key components to it. These components are; who am I? Whose am I? and distractions to our vocation. These three components help us to go deeper into trying to find our vocation and our understanding of what vocation is. These same three components are located in the Legend of the Bagger Vance. The Legend of Bagger Vance connects these three themes together with its own definitions and descriptions of what they are in order to better shine a light on vocation and delve deeper into what vocation is to each of us. Both Parker Palmer and the Legend of Bagger

I must find my calling if I am to truly live my life to the fullest and to live out God’s plan for my life. God is the only one who can help me find my purpose. He has had a plan for my life long before I was even born and that God has a purpose for me that no one else could fulfill. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, Jeremiah 29:11” (NIV). This means that no matter what I do as long as I am in accordance with God’s will, everything will turn out for the best in the end. God has promised to give me hope and a future and to bless my life. “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do, Ephesians 2:10” (NIV). With this knowledge I know that God has created me exactly the way I should be and that he has given me talents and skills enough to do all he asks of me to do.

During the course of the LDB481-17: Faith and Life Issues, Ms. Sams did not understand of the concept of vocation, before enrolling in the course. Nor, she has never heard the concept of vocation during at that time her twenty-two years on Earth. As she considers herself, a free spirit and a humanist regarding religion, Ms. Sams continues to note that she does not follow a particular religion. However, she keeps an open mind to how an individual’s religion has transformed his or her life. As a free spirit, by primarily having an open mind to the religious faith of Christianity, Ms. Sams assures that the spirit of God lives within each individual; regardless if he or she believes or does not believe in the spirit of God.

In the introduction and first three steps of Dr. Kent Ingle’s book, Devine Design, provides a guide to help us guide our lives and find our divine design. In step one he explains how we must find the catalysts in our life. A catalyst is something that provokes or speeds a significant change or action (19). What Ingle is saying in this first step is that you cannot be afraid to take on the adventures of life. When a new adventure or opportunity arises be brave and say yes. No matter how terrifying the adventure looks do not sit by and let life slip through your fingertips. You must jump into life and make the effort to become what you are divinely designed to do. Furthermore, in step two of Dr. Ingle’s book there is an emphasis on self-reflection. The reason we must reflect is to promote self-discovery, and this creates progress in our lives. Finally, in step three Dr. Ingle covers the topic of making decisions about life. Decisions will come frequently and we must be ready to make both small and big decisions to progress in life.

In the article "Now I Become Myself," author Parker Palmer endeavors to illustrate to her readership how can find personal fulfillment in their occupations by finding out about the self and what it is the individual needs to be satisfied. Most important to Palmer is a wider understanding of the term "vocation." This term is usually applied to religious persons who feel some otherworldly calling to the mantle of the clergy. However, Palmer argues that vocation can be a part of everyone's life, no matter which field it is to which they are drawn. Vocation is a gift for every person from a divine being who tries to inspire people to become the best versions of their selves possible. Achieving this is possible for everyone so long as they listen to the self and do not engage in actions which would hinder self-discovery. What's more, Palmer says, once the self-actualization has occurred, one is not only a better employee, but a better all around human being.

It's hard for some people to find themselves, and it’s easier for others. James Johnson is a good example of this. In order to find his identity his mother dies, he moves to countless different places, and meets thousands of different faces. Yet he doesn’t find who he is until his children are born and his wife ends up dying. He is brought to realize the difficulties life has to bring him to be able to enjoy the simplicity of knowing who he

Dr. Waddell explains that he feels work signifies honor, creativity, and love. Dr. Waddell states, “[vocation] expresses the belief that God is present in calling and equipping people to fulfill a particular purpose in life and this correlates with Grudems’ statement, “that is why God made us with a desire to be productive, to make or do something useful for [ourselves] and other people”.

The theme of “Finding One’s Self” was portrayed throughout the entire book. “Finding One’s Self” is defined as the ability to discover one’s true, inner self, knowing what they want for their lives, and changing their ways of life so they can achieve their goals. During Papa’s time in North

However, any person who is motivated to become fully self-aware can do so thorough life experiences, including those experiences achieve in a therapeutic milieu. Ultimately, each person is responsible for their own lives and the opportunities that are perceived by individuals are often stunted because of an individuals life experiences, perceptions and feelings. While people seek to be connected to others as they are innately social and through these social experiences shape their own personalities, lives and the world around them. Ideally, people can work toward achieving their lives in ways that are integrated and fulfilling. It is thorough personal freedom and understanding of the self that this occurs (Corey, 2013).

Giving an Account of Oneself, a compelling piece written by Judith Butler, digs deep into what it means to give an

The title of the section in Parker Palmers book, “Let Your Life Speak”, that speaks to his personal journey towards vocation entitled “Now I Become Myself” really spoke to me. Throughout this chapter(s) he examines his personal journey towards self discovery. I journey, I have realized I myself am on. When I thought about what I would tell my family when I stepped off the plane, as I was driving to Dallas, I realized that I would have to fit the person I am to fill the place where the person I was fit so comfortably. Like Palmer moving to the monastery, my moving to college was “like moving to Mars- utterly alien but profoundly compelling” (Palmer 23). I have become a