Wendell Berry, in a 2006 interview about his novel Jayber Crow:
Jayber, as he looks back on his life, feels that he was called to be a member and a servant of Port William. Looking back on my own life, I have a similar feeling — that I was called to do the work I’ve done. Like Jayber, I was a long time figuring out what my calling was and making a response that seemed to me to be creditable. It was an awkward business. There was of course some error and misconception. I really can’t imagine how it could have been otherwise, and of course one learns from one’s errors and misconceptions, and perhaps this learning gathers toward an outcome that is in some way substantially different from error and misconception. I don’t want to make too strong a claim or pretend to too much understanding, but my experience has caused me to believe that help does come. It comes by way of inspiration, and it comes from friends and books met with at the right time.