“Eugene was more than The Pastor. He was more than The Author. Truly this man lived and breathed and smiled Jesus.” —Don Pape
Eugene Peterson died on Monday, October 22. I am sad.
His family reports, “During the previous days, it was apparent that he was navigating the thin and sacred space between earth and heaven. We overheard him speaking to people we can only presume were welcoming him into paradise.”
His death left a huge hole in my heart. I was hooked on his first book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, and read many others, right down to his more recent, As Kingfishers Catch Fire. My soul does catch fire through his words.
After reading Leap Over a Wall, his book on King David, I packaged some courage and a few excerpts from my David manuscript, asking him for an endorsement of 
The Stones. Didn’t hear, didn’t hear.
Then I got a letter. He had just finished The Message, and in the pile of mail on his desk, he found my packet. He liked the excerpts and enclosed an endorsement:
We know more of David’s life than any other biblical person. But not nearly enough. The tangle of motives and emotions, chaos and charisma continue to kindle the imaginations of our best writers, drawing us into a story in which we see every detail of our humanity against the epic of salvation. Eleanor Gustafson is one of our best.
THEN—a few days later, the phone rang, the caller identifying himself as Gene Peterson. Yikes! My brain shut down. How many ways can you say THANK YOU without sounding totally stupid? He was gracious, though, and we corresponded a bit, after that.
A final Peterson quote:
The metaphor of eating a book is my favorite of all St. John’s well-crafted words. It means, of course, “Get this book into all the sinews and muscles and nerves of your body. It is not enough to get it into your head; get the book into your stomach and feet. Live and digest this salvation life!” (From As Kingfishers Catch Fire, p. 367.)
No anorexic faith allowed here! My task now is to embody the Jesus that Peterson lived and breathed and smiled.
Permission granted by artist Robert Berran
Are you a Peterson fan? Have any of his books—The Message, perhaps—influenced your life? Please leave a comment, or email me at egus@me.com
Well said Ellie. This is indeed a sad day for us but a joyful one for Eugene. His Message translation really woke up a lot of readers to the beauty of the text instead of taking it for granted. While his prose is sometimes overblown, it is never boring. More often than not, it simply takes flight and moves to a higher plane as in his rendering of Mathew 6:26:
“Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description — careless in the care of God.” Bon Voyage Eugene Peterson – now completely free and unfettered, careless in the care of God.
I have not heard of this Godly man, Author for Christ our Lord. You have placed a spark of interest in reading his books. After I read yours of course ❤
Ellie,
I am so sorry for your loss. Weren’t you two authors lucky to have each other’s support and encouragement all these years. He will still be cheering you on from heaven Ellie!! And you still have me and quite a few others in your fan club.
Can’t wait to join in the discussion tomorrow at noon.
With love and deepest condolences,
💗 Sue Jenkins
Thanks so much, Sue. There is/will be a good amount of cheering in heaven-especially before the Throne. To God be the Glory!
Thanks, Ellie for the depth of your passion. The portrait of Jesus you have included says it all.
Marilyn Allison
Hi, Ellie, I did not now much about Mr. Peterson, but have read the message and given it to my friend who doesn’t read much from the Bible on a daily basis in hopes that she will get lost in its pages and see the Savior for who He really is. Thanks for writing and so sorry for your loss. Heaven will be a wonderful place as we are received into everlasting fellowship with those who have gone on before us.
Eugene Peterson was and will continue to be one of a handful of individuals the LORD has sent to lead and shape me.
Fine tribute to an outstanding servant. Thanks, Ellie, for highlighting his contribution.