Last year I had the chance to be a part of the Q Session in NYC with Eugene Peterson.

It’s was rumored that this would likely be his last “formal” public appearance.

He’s been a teacher of mine for quite some time now — at least from a distance.

His pastoral heart.

His sharp mind.

His poetic writings.

His consistent and unwavering faith.

In an age when it seems that so few are able to travel the journey of life with integrity, honor and conviction — Peterson seems to have done just that.

He inspires me.

He encourages me.

And if I’m honest, he also intimidates me.

Eugene Peterson is just a man — another human being — just like you, and just like me.

But he’s the kind of man I hope I’m slowly becoming — at least from what I’ve seen and read of him.

And having the chance to be with people like him — people who exemplify the kind of life and faith that we hope we embody… or hope to someday embody — can be intimidating to be around.

I think getting the chance to be in the presence of “spiritual giants” or people who are “well-accomplished” or “highly regarded in their field” — even “experts” — can be both inspiring and paralyzing.

They help us to see that our own dreams are possible.

But they also can cause us to question whether we have what it takes to accomplish our own dreams and goals… wondering if we can possibly “measure up.”

And then I’m reminded of Jesus words to his disciples:

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).

Greater things.

Greater things!

And while this doesn’t necessarily mean that my work with students, or humble attempts at writing, will ever earn me the kind of wide-spread respect and admiration that Peterson has… it doesn’t have to.

We’ve been created by the same God — as two separate and distinct individuals — to do different things…

For different people.

In different places.

For different reasons.

And that reminder is very freeing!

When it comes to “walking with giants…” this can hopefully changes our perspective(s).

Hopefully we can enjoy our time with those who have gone before us, and done some (or many) of the things we hope to some day do.

Hopefully we can learn from them… and not feel the need to compete with them.

Hopefully we can be inspired by them — and not paralyzed.

That was my hope as I prepared to head off to NYC last year.

How about you?

How do you “walk with giants?”

How do you walk the line between being inspired and/or overwhelmed?

How do you challenge students in this area?