No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp 225: Parker Palmer: Courage, Vocation, and Paradox (Best of NSE)
Sep 1, 2025
Parker Palmer, a renowned Quaker writer and activist, shares profound insights from his 86 years of life experience. He discusses how finding true vocation often comes late and the importance of embracing life's paradoxes. Palmer reflects on his battles with depression, highlighting how these struggles deepened his appreciation for life’s small joys. He emphasizes the need for authenticity in community and education, advocating for vulnerable connections and collaborative learning. His journey reveals that courage and resilience can lead to a fulfilling life.
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Vocation Is An Ongoing Experiment
- Vocation unfolds through trials; clarity often arrives late and through failed experiments.
- Parker Palmer framed his life as iterative “experiments with truth” that converged only around age 50.
Don't Live Someone Else's Script
- Many people live a life shaped by others' expectations before rediscovering their true callings.
- Palmer warns that imitating heroes yields damage if you ignore your unique gifts.
The Zusha Story About Being Yourself
- Palmer recounts the Hasidic tale of Zusha asking to be like Moses and the rabbi's reply.
- The rabbi said you'll be asked why you weren't more like Zusha, urging faithful selfhood.
