Five Recommended Books on Vocational Discernment

Last updated on: September 21, 2015 at 3:09 pm by Teresa Blythe

Five Recommended Books on Vocational Discernment 2015-09-21T15:09:54-08:00 Teresa Blythe

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Free photo from canva.com

Many people come to spiritual direction with questions about how they are to contribute to the world through their life’s work. How can my particular gifts and skills be used to support myself financially while also contributing to what the world most deeply needs? “Vocational discernment” used to be a term primarily used in Catholic circles to help men and women determine if they were called to religious life. These days the term is used much more broadly. We are all called by God to meaningful and sustainable work in the world. Once we realize vocational discernment is for all of us then we can move forward in discovering the adventure God has called us to. These five books are my favorites for assisting people with vocational discernment.

A Little Parker Palmer to Start With

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocationby Parker J. Palmer is a tiny book that is big on stories that illustrate an old Quaker saying, “Let your life speak.” Allowing your experience, values and beliefs to guide you is how you allow your Inner Teacher (a Quaker synonym for Spirit) to have a voice. Palmer writes about how his understanding of “letting your life speak” changed over the years for him. In chapter four, “All the Way Down,” Palmer shares his wisdom gleaned from his experience of clinical depression. Palmer is a lifelong educator who has contributed much to a spiritually-enhanced view of teaching. His essays on vocation are beloved by many and will be helpful to people in the midst of vocational discernment.

Bringing a Social Conscience to Vocation

A Sacred Voice is Callingby John Neafsey invites us to do “socially engaged listening” as we consider our life’s work. Neafsey is a psychologist and teacher who writes about vocation being “not just about me¸ but about us and the common good.” Using liberation theology as a core teaching, Neafsey encourages people in vocational discernment to think seriously about the contribution we can make to a hurting world. How do we know when we’re called to a particular work? We look for a “felt sense of authenticity,” says Neafsey. This is a wonderful book about doing social justice as only we can.

A Theological Take on Vocation

Vocation: Discerning our Callings in Life by Douglas Schuurman. If a book on the theology of vocation written from a Protestant Christian viewpoint is your cup of tea, this is the book for you. Schuurman, a professor of religion from St. Olaf College, takes on theological ethics and discusses vocation as much more than our “paid work.” Throughout our life, we experience calls from God—some of which involve our work and some are about infusing religious significance in our daily experiences. Schuurman wrote the book primarily for college students and young adults because of their concerns about how they would find their place in the world. There is no quick 7-step plan for vocational discernment in this book, but it’s full of biblical, historical and ethical theory that can help shape a person’s discernment process.

How Others Have Understood Call

Callings edited by William Placher, Professor of Humanities at Wabash College and author of A History of Christian Theology. One way of gathering information for your own vocational discernment path is to study the paths other people have taken and reflect on how they felt called by God to their life’s work. Placher gathered excerpts on vocation from some of the greatest writers in Christian history: Gregory of Nyssa on the Life of Macrina, Augustine, Bonaventure, Luther, Calvin, Teresa of Avila, George Fox, Howard Thurman, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton (just to name a few). This collection will delight history lovers and those who cherish the reflections of Christians from ages past. Their thoughts can help you put your vocational discernment into perspective.

The Book I Can’t Stop Recommending

Holy Play by Kirk Byron Jones. I know I already featured this in my post about books on discernment, but I want to highlight it again because it is so helpful for vocational discernment. And because it is quite different from the other books on this list. Jones is a professor at Andover-Newton and former pastor of a number of churches. His mission in life is to help us understand God as our divine partner who calls us to a number of open possibilities and desires to co-create with us. Jones is all about discovering what our dreams are and then joyfully pursuing them. I usually recommend this book along with Neafsey’s to young adults who are struggling with vocational discernment. While Neafsey will encourage them to balance their own needs with those of the world, Jones will invite them do that from a particularly light and joyful place.

If you are interested in learning more about spiritual direction or entering spiritual direction with me, please contact me at [email protected] or visit www.teresablythe.net. Also visit my website for the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction.

discernment

spiritual direction

spiritual discernment

vocation

Previous Post

September 15, 2015

Five Recommended Books on the Unconditional Love of God

Next Post

September 24, 2015 Decent Work is a Spiritual Value

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent angels Anne Lamott Christmas church leadership clergy contemplation contemplative Christianity Desert Fathers and Mothers discernment election evangelicalism faith freedom guru healing interfaith dialogue Lent love Martin Luther King Jr media mind body spirit mystic Nativity nature new year's resolutions parables peace pluralism prayer prayer practices religious diversity resurrection Rules for Prayer Rumi saints sexual abuse spirit spiritual direction spiritual discernment spiritual mentor spiritual path spirituality stewardship Super Bowl terrorism theology transgender Uncategorized violence visioning vocation

Select a Month February 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 July 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 September 2022 August 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz