A Sacred Voice is Calling

by John Neafsey

A Sacred Voice Is Calling Personal Vocation And Social Conscience by John Neafsey. Published by Orbis Books,2006, Paperback

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

210 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2006

Reviews

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

unassuming yet impactful.

i'm always weary of things like "vocation" and "calling"—the life that they promise seems so simple it's impossible.
but neafsey does a beautiful job weaving in ideas from all different thinkers and traditions. intersectional reflection on what it might mean to live a good life.

some quotes i loved:
huck finn's "all right, then, i'll go to hell"
flannery o'connor's "that life has, for all its horrors, been found by God to be worth dying for"
dr. greenspan's "a baby takes on these physical milestones because she has taken a passionate interest in you and the world you introduced to her"

[Maggie Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read enough to get the gist but did not finish before retreat! summer reading book for horizons fellows that i sort of neglected and read most of in a week. interesting discussion of vocation and appreciated the ecumenism, but wasn’t particularly transformative for me.

[Catherine Cannamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silent retreat type beat

[Jonathan Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quoting a diversity of academic, historical, literary and musical sources, Dr. Neafsey reveals that the pursuits of personal fulfillment and social justice are inherently interrelated. His analysis of the powerful forces that discourage people from living in accordance with the moral directive of their conscience evokes a profound appreciation for those who have dared to realize their natural human potential by submitting themselves to the principle of justice that indwells each and every one of us. I highly recommend this book to anyone in pursuit of social justice and human authenticity.

[Peder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing, very sane, very human. In my estimation and judgment, it is quite good guidance--it doesn't give you a whole lot of answers, but it does help you explore the important questions relating to calling and vocation, especially through a Gospelic lens (though not solely a biblical source either)... I'm reading it again.

[Cedric Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this one down. In preparing to write an autobiography for a leadership class, this book helped me in looking at the questions of who am I and why am I? As with most readings, this one helped stretch the mind and brought about growth of thought about myself.

[Daniel Gonzales-Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books all time. It has opened up doors for me to learn about myself and drove me to see myself for who I truly want to be. (It also convinced me to break up with my toxic girlfriend)

[Terry Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging book about callings, or vocations, and the role they play in helping us find more integrated ways of living our lives.

[Libin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book needs to be read every decade. Great wisdom here.

[Jodie Pine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to our hearts and listening with our hearts to discern the voice of God leading us into our vocation.

[Madeline Bialecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a required read for my Internship in Ignatian Spirituality and is a book I plan to read again because it is easy to read, relatable and relevant.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read on vocation/discernment so far. One of the things I especially appreciate is that Neafsey really draws upon the work of others -- he's rooted in the Christian tradition to be sure, but he combines this with teachings from other religious traditions as well as psychology, and this all gives this book a real depth and wisdom. I also really appreciate this book's orientation toward "social conscience," which is very much informed by liberation theology. Definitely one to reread (and reread)!

[Geoffrey Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year later: This spring semester, I decided to teach this book, instead of the book I used last year (one of Parker Palmer's books on vocational discernment). So, it seems to be appealing to students, although some seem to be bristling a bit at some of the religious discourse. Overall, I'm finding it useful, and the chapter on working from a place as a wounded healer was especially appealing to more than one student.

I've been reading lot of books on vocational discernment lately, especially those that resonate with Ignatian spirituality and practice. The interest is in part professional--in that I teach a senior capstone course each year for our graduating seniors in peace and justice studies--but it's also personal. I'm finding this material very interesting and helpful as I start imagining the next phase of my own life. This book compiles many different religious and spiritual perspectives on vocational discernment that are deeply connected to social justice, and does in a very engaging and accessible manner. I think it could serve very well in the classroom, and might even be a better pick than the Parker Palmer book I'm using now (which I love, but the students don't seem to be identifying with as strongly as I thought they might).

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about "the voice" that calls and leads you in your life decisions. Completely changed my view on how my life was going and opened my eyes to countless ideas. I absolutely believe everyone needs to read this.

[Hannah Majeske-Mikyska · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book had very good insight and really dug deep into what it meant to have a vocation and a calling. However, the content was too dry for my liking. It was difficult to stay focused on what I was reading.

[Danie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great synthesis of liberation theology from all perspectives (not only religious). A must read for any social justice activist

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sound psychology & theology and well written. The excerpts from poetic and biographical sources intermingled with the argument for awakening made this a gem of a book! I highly recommend.

[Jackie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing, gentle yet insightful.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly inspirational. Very quirky. Amusing in a really sad way how the 2003 Iraq War is the author's go-to example of tyrannical politics, but you can read around that if you need to.

[Beverly Bushyhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great input on work and purpose