A Tribute to Eugene Peterson

"Let's go."

Eugene Peterson's final words.

I'm listening to the Livestream of the funeral of Eugene Peterson on a rainy day in Ithaca NY. I should be working on my doctoral dissertation but I'm tuning in to this service instead.

I first encountered Eugene Peterson through the book "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" - a reflection on the Psalms of Ascent. It was an assigned book when I was at Canadian Bible College in Regina Saskatchewan. To be honest, it didn't have much impact on me at the time. Probably just got diluted along with all the other work I did as a theological undergraduate student.

Fast forward to the early 90's and a pastor who was (and still is) a mentor to me: Brian Buhler. I was just starting out in ministry. Brian was a well-known pastor in my denomination. He was kind enough to meet with me periodically for lunch. Over one of these meals, Brian recommended the book "Under the Unpredictable Plant" - Eugene's reflection on Jonah. That book would then be assigned when I started graduate studies at Regent College some years later.

In the mid 90's I took one class with Eugene at Regent College. It was a class on the life of David. It was great. I didn't really interact with him much. Eugene likely would not have remembered me being in that rather large class.

After that class, I would hear a few more lectures at Regent. In the early 00's I was starting my MDIV at Regent and also starting pastoral ministry in downtown Vancouver. It was at this time that Eugene would prove to be the single most formative human voice in my pastoral vocation.

Under the Unpredictable Plant proved a game changer for me. Eugene was a voice howling in the wilderness against what the church had become in the West. Churches and ministries were trying to get bigger, faster and better. Eugene warned us to slow down, become smaller and more thoughtful.
Over the years I would end up reading almost everything he wrote. He became one of the few authors whose books I would purchase as soon as they were released.

In 2010 I attended a small gathering of pastors in Colorado where Eugene reflected on five of his recent books on spiritual theology. I had the opportunity to spend time with both Eugene and his wife Jan. We chatted about ministry, life and writing.

At the time, I was pastoring a small suburban church outside of Vancouver Canada. It was going ok but a year later a conflict erupted and I and my family had to leave this church we had poured our hearts and lives into. It broke my heart (and Felicia's heart). I've mostly gotten over that pain.

But as I was recovering, Eugene's voice emerged as a voice of encouragement, support, and love. When I wanted to give up, Eugene's writings would come along at the right time to gently put me back on track.

I never saw Eugene after that time in 2010. I had pondered from time to time to travel to Montana to spend some time with him. But, I never got around to it. It would have been nice. But, Eugene's books will always be there when I need them to remind me of who I am and what I have been called to do.

Over the course of my life, I've been able to meet a few other well known Christan leaders. Most of them are kind and humble but some of them were arrogant or dismissive when I met them. I think what struck me about Eugene and Jan was how I felt when I was with them. Both Eugene and Jan were two of the kindest people I have ever met in my life. They listened to me carefully and paid me the honor of taking me seriously.

We might accomplish great things in our lives - write books, speak to large crowds and become famous - but I think what strikes me is what kind of person you are in relationship with others .... what are you like when you interact with others.

For Eugene and Jan it was pure kindness, gentleness, and love that greeted you when you were with them.


Thank you Eugene.