Poets and Pastors

Poets are caretakers of language, the shepherds of words, keeping them from harm, exploitation, misuse. Words not only mean something; they are something, each with a sound and rhythm all its own.

Poets are not primarily trying to tell us, or get us, to do something. By attending to words with playful discipline (or disciplined playfulness), they draw us into deeper respect both for words and the reality they set before us.

Pastors are also in the word business. We preach, teach, and counsel using words. People often pay careful attention on the chance that God may be using our words to speak to them.

(Eugene H. Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor, P155-6)