David Powlison (1949–2019), a dear colleague and friend, was a polymath who knew much about many things. After working with him for almost forty years, I still chuckled at his passing references to specific flowers, trees, and birds; archaic novels; quotes from early church fathers; details of a solar event scheduled to appear later that evening; and trivia about Philadelphia sports.
But these were peripheral adornments on a man who knew Jesus and loved him, fed on the word, was wholly engaged with the person in front of him, could enjoy teasing close friends and family, and was honored to be teased. He went through life knowing that he was created in God’s image yet also had much in common with the grass of the field that passes quickly.
And he was, among other things, a remarkably mature counselor. With my friend David in view, consider with me for a moment the making of such a counselor.
Christians Are Counselors
