Embracing Your Second Calling: Find Passion and Purpose for the Rest of Your Life

by Dale Bourke

A woman's guide to the second half of life. Do you ever wonder if the best of life is in the past? Are you longing for more passion and purpose in the second half of your life? Take a deep breath and prepare for a great adventure as Dale Hanson Bourke resoundingly affirms that midlife is a time for reflection but also a time for action. In Embracing Your Second Calling , she challenges women to respond to God's call specifically for this season of life and offers practical ideas for finding new meaning. Bourke's vulnerability and story-driven approach offers essential principles and specific suggestions as well as interactive elements For women searching for God's purpose and passion in middle age and beyond this book offers an inspirational road map to meaning and adventure.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2010

Reviews

[Rosalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great idea, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed in it overall. There were definitely some gems and great "take-aways", but generally I couldn't really relate to the author and the hectic lifestyle she obviously leads, and stories she tells. I was also disappointed that, as a Christian author, she didn't tie in more scriptures to underscore her themes and points. As the leader of a Christian small group that was using this book, I often felt compelled to find my own supporting scripture( and other material) for the points she was making. Some of her own personal stories were used as examples, but they were at times long-winded. She used the biblical story of Naomi as an example throughout the entire book, and as much as I LOVE that story, she pretty much milked it dry. I would not necessarily recommend this book.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Positive takeaways were that the story of Ruth placed emphasis on the older Naomi, which I hadn’t spent much time pondering. And the fact that we have no idea who we influence by our quietly faithful lives, BUT, I would not call the author’s personal examples “quietly faithful”. She’s quite energetic, independent, and obviously influential. It makes me tired to be held to that level of expectation. She also relies heavily on some questionable science, like personality inventories and brain mapping. Not many ordinary people have the time for or access to those types of experimental things.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good food for thought, however, given the author has accomplished so much already so far in her life, is such an amazing woman of power and influence, I just found it a little difficult to relate. I appreciated the thoughtful questions though, and many were applicable and have given me much to think about as I also head into this 'second half' and look for my second calling of where God wants me to be at this stage of my life.

[Ruth Ropper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for a woman of my stage moving from one part of my life into the second stage. Looks at how God may be directing you to doing something different and how to prepare and identify what that might be. Lots of examples from real women throughout the book.

[Loretta Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every woman who finds her life a summation of events and responsibilities that sidetracked her purpose and passion towards fulfilling her calling.

[Shirley Corder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I offered to review this book. It is one of the best I have read in many years. It's specifically for women in their "second half" of life. Dale quotes Carl Jung's statement, "We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning." This is what this book is all about. I am well into my afternoon of life, but hadn't spotted the shift until I read this book. Now I feel free to be me the "Me" that I've become, and allow the "Me" of the morning part of my life to relax.

I read the book in every available gap of time throughout the day and meditated on the questions for reflection while I was doing other things. I am now going back over it, taking a few pages at a time, and journaling as I go.

There is so much more to this book than just a reading book. I would love to go through it with a group of women who are in the afternoon of their lives, and Dale includes "Act"s for group discussion. Sadly, at this stage the book is not available in South Africa or I would definitely try to arrange this.

Dale also uses the story of Naomi to illustrate many of her points, which makes for a fascinating Bible Study in itself.

My only disappointment with this book has nothing to do with the author. I don't know if the publishers used a different type of material with the book cover, but the plastic covering was starting to peel off when I received the book, and it eventually got so bad I pulled it off. Not what I've come to expect of Thomas Nelson books. Maybe I was just unfortunate.

This doesn't in any way affect the book itself though, and I would strongly recommend it to women in their 40s and later. As Dale has shown me, there comes a time in our lives when we move on from our first calling. So many women seem to spend the second half of their lives trying to continue or revive the program for the first half, instead of embracing their second calling. Thank you Dale for an excellent and thought-provoking book.

[Dee Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really made me think about what I want the second half of my life to look like. It provided many opportunities for reflection and gave some great insights to look at who I've been, who I am now, and who I want to become. Some of the exercises will have to wait until I don't have a child in high school, while even more will have to wait until I don't have a teaching job that forces me to go to work each day. But, there are many things to think about and to consider doing now.

This is a great read for spiritual groups or book clubs for women who are good friends. I'm not sure you would feel comfortable doing some of the exercises with people you don't know well.

Overall, it's a keeper and one I will refer to again and again.

[Dominique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been struggling to finish reading this book. While I was quite excited by the subject matter, the book just hasn't been one I readily connected to.

Be that as it may, if you are struggling with embracing your second calling, this book is worth the time to read as the author provides a lot of great advice, personal experience, and resources to help anyone make the transition from a career to a calling.

[Paula Schuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely look at how to reinvent yourself when in the second half of life. I like it for book clubs and gifts to older women. I also enjoyed the reflective exercises and the fact that it is for women.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The right time

This book was introduced to me on the radio about 2-3 years ago . This was my right time to read it. I just finished preparing to speak on living a full life instead of a busy one. As I read the book, God confirmed many of the points in the speech I had finished.