84 Comments
User's avatar
Stephen Starr's avatar

Staying faithful to the vision of a destination we may never reach. Tragic gap indeed, but so vitally life affirming!

Expand full comment
Lane Kingfish's avatar

You are always inspiring. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Suzanne Ryan's avatar

This is beautiful. Thank you. 🙏🏼

Expand full comment
Colin J Dow's avatar

Thank you for this! This is a great reminder to hold on to hope and keep doing the work…“It is not your responsibility to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

Expand full comment
Rhonda Chaney Best's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Sabine Wilms, PhD's avatar

Thank you so so so very much for this piece. I always love your writing and wisdom, ever since I was exposed to your “Courage to Teach” in a faculty reading group. Thank you for your work. This is it. This is what gives me the strength, as an immigrant and granddaughter of Nazis, to stay here in the US and process the rise of fascism and hatred all around us. Eyes and heart wide open. Work to be done. You are such an inspiration. May god/the gods bless and protect you (and I don’t say that lightly)….

Expand full comment
Jason G. Edwards's avatar

Thank you, Parker. Your writing always breathes fresh air into the day. By the way, (as a pastor) I have given our graduating high school seniors your book Let Your Life Speak every year for the past 16 years.

Expand full comment
Val's avatar

Beautiful, simply beautiful. Much thanks.

Expand full comment
Jan Alexander's avatar

Thank you for such an elegant discussion of how to continue to live and serve even with the brokenness we all carry. I will be reflecting and praying on this for many days.

Expand full comment
Monica's avatar

Thank you for this framing! I’d love to download your resource but the link to Fetzer Institute seems broken?

Expand full comment
Alissa Lange's avatar

Thank you. I needed this.

Expand full comment
Parker J. Palmer's avatar

Thanks, Alissa. I'm glad this piece spoke to you.

Expand full comment
Lynn McKenna's avatar

Beautiful essay. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Parker J. Palmer's avatar

Thank you, Lynn.

Expand full comment
Marjeanna Burge's avatar

I appreciated this writing as it touched so many intersections of things I’m traveling through right now. I’ve read so many of your books (my favorite of yours & possibly all books was “Let Your Life Speak”. I have reflected back on it and shared things from it for YEARS). I’m not sure if you’ll remember me but I worked with Estrus for years at Liberation and I’ve participated in several renewal retreats 💜. I’m very grateful I found you in here!! 🙏🏽💜🪶

Expand full comment
Parker J. Palmer's avatar

Greetings, Marjeanna! Yes, of course I remember you, very well—you and the good trouble you and Estrus and your colleagues made in Fort Worth! I count it a privilege that I got to join you in making some of that good trouble! I'll be holding you and your journey in the Light, sending you traveling mercies as you go... With gratitude, Parker

Expand full comment
Robert Brown's avatar

Dear Palmer, As an EfM mentor, we have used your Touchstones and other guidelines for decades. Today I am lifted up, reminded, and recharged with your wise words of hope and action. I send my best to you, family, and loved ones, and express my deep gratitude for your rich contributions to the common good! God's Love in Christ, Robert Santa Barbara CA.

Expand full comment
Parker J. Palmer's avatar

Thanks so much, Robert. I'm glad that EfM has found some of those ideas useful, since I know of the good work that program does. Blessings to you and yours...

Expand full comment
Miryam’s Space's avatar

Thank you dear Palmer

Expand full comment
Parker J. Palmer's avatar

A deep bow, Miryam...

Expand full comment