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The Art of Pastoring Contemplative Reflections
Eighty-one reflections that offer refreshment to pastors. Scores of pastors from numerous denominations have found these reflections a pungent reminder of who they are as ministers of Christ.
108 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 1994
3 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
William Martin
18 books160 followersWilliam Martin is an award-winning author whose work expresses the practical wisdom and inspiration of Taoist thought for contemporary readers. He is the spouse of Nancy, the father of Lara and John, and the grandfather of Jillian and Andrew.
A native of California, Bill graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Electronic Engineering. After four years working for the Navy as a research scientist, he returned to graduate school. He earned a Masters degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He did not find himself fitting within the Christian Church clergy structure so, guided by his love of the Tao Te Ching, he began to seek his own way. He spent two decades in private practice as a Marriage and Family Counselor in Phoenix, Arizona, and taught counseling for many years at Rio Salado College in Phoenix. He has been a student of the Tao for four decades.
In 1998 he and Nancy decided to simplify their lives so they sold most of their possessions, left their careers, gathered their remaining belongings into a 5X8 foot U-Hall trailer and moved to the Oregon coast. Nancy worked at a small Inn and Bill wrote a book. In 1999, after a year of strolling along the beaches, walking through the forests, and feeling the intense joy of the natural world, they moved to the mountains of Northern California. They live a somewhat private existence, connecting with their close friends and with their individual work. They walk, read, enjoy qigong and cherish their life together. Nancy is a traditional bookbinder, restoring old books and creating hand-bound editions of new ones (www.nwbookbinding.com). Bill continues to write and paint in the Taoist tradition.
A native of California, Bill graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Electronic Engineering. After four years working for the Navy as a research scientist, he returned to graduate school. He earned a Masters degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He did not find himself fitting within the Christian Church clergy structure so, guided by his love of the Tao Te Ching, he began to seek his own way. He spent two decades in private practice as a Marriage and Family Counselor in Phoenix, Arizona, and taught counseling for many years at Rio Salado College in Phoenix. He has been a student of the Tao for four decades.
In 1998 he and Nancy decided to simplify their lives so they sold most of their possessions, left their careers, gathered their remaining belongings into a 5X8 foot U-Hall trailer and moved to the Oregon coast. Nancy worked at a small Inn and Bill wrote a book. In 1999, after a year of strolling along the beaches, walking through the forests, and feeling the intense joy of the natural world, they moved to the mountains of Northern California. They live a somewhat private existence, connecting with their close friends and with their individual work. They walk, read, enjoy qigong and cherish their life together. Nancy is a traditional bookbinder, restoring old books and creating hand-bound editions of new ones (www.nwbookbinding.com). Bill continues to write and paint in the Taoist tradition.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 19, 2025
I have now read through this book 9 times over the last 4 years...one page at a time. That's how this book works. If you are a member of the Christian Clergy, for whom this book is written, simply read one page a day, every day, for the rest of your life. Read it with the creative imagination you might use with Genesis or Revelation...an open mind and prepared for a challenge. This book will help you to do both in the most gentle way you can imagine. Then, slowly, it will leak into all your ministry...at Bible studies, pre martial counseling, Pastoral care. This may be the best Pastoral theology book ever written as far as application...and the best leadership book I've ever read...now on to my 10th reading...
2024 update: I will start my 20th reading of this book, in the same process listed above. I’m still learning from the simple teachings this book provides.
2024 update: I will start my 20th reading of this book, in the same process listed above. I’m still learning from the simple teachings this book provides.
October 29, 2017
The kind of book i would likely bypass--drab cover, unknown author, etc. But when i heard Dallas Willard quote this author I was curious. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the messages--there's some pure gold here. Bottom line for you pastors, and really anyone with responsibility over people's souls, is that it is not about you. To unquote famed slugger Reggie Jackson, you are NOT the straw that stirs the drink. Maybe you get to hold the cup. And the quicker we learn that, the quicker we can get out of God's way. If you are stressed out and feeling the weight, this book can help. I had take off a star for the slight 70's vibe, sorry!
September 21, 2019
I noticed some very positive reviews on this booklet, so I bought it for my pastor. Flipped through it, before I gave it to him, and found it very beautiful. Speaking so much about how to truly care for our soul.
(not just the sheep, but also the pastor for his own!)
I hope my pastor enjoys it, and look forward to being pastored (even) better :-)
Side note : the backflip says that it's targeted at pastors on the brink of burnout, which isn't all that enticing, of course. Never mind. I think it's good for anyone to be affirmed in what really matters, and let go of what is unimportant.
(not just the sheep, but also the pastor for his own!)
I hope my pastor enjoys it, and look forward to being pastored (even) better :-)
Side note : the backflip says that it's targeted at pastors on the brink of burnout, which isn't all that enticing, of course. Never mind. I think it's good for anyone to be affirmed in what really matters, and let go of what is unimportant.
November 12, 2024
Martin, a pastoral counselor of pastors, has written this brief and gentle collection of 81 meditations based on Tao Te Ching. One page per meditation.
I read this book one week after Donald Trump was elected to his second term. The meditations quiet, heal, and restore the restless heart.
They offer an entirely different approach to succeeding as a pastor. Written for those of us who are pastors, the gist of the meditations is that we find our value in connecting our own hearts with God, not with programs, growth, and accolades. Our responsibility is not to get the congregation to fulfill OUR dreams, but to get people to experience the richness of their own souls.
It may seem that the meditations are an escape from the real world of poverty, oppression, and violence. But they actually build a counter-intuitive way of addressing these issues--through openness of heart rather than frenetic resolve.
I only wish I would have had more mentors through the years who got these truths through to me during the frenzied days of my pastoring.
I read this book one week after Donald Trump was elected to his second term. The meditations quiet, heal, and restore the restless heart.
They offer an entirely different approach to succeeding as a pastor. Written for those of us who are pastors, the gist of the meditations is that we find our value in connecting our own hearts with God, not with programs, growth, and accolades. Our responsibility is not to get the congregation to fulfill OUR dreams, but to get people to experience the richness of their own souls.
It may seem that the meditations are an escape from the real world of poverty, oppression, and violence. But they actually build a counter-intuitive way of addressing these issues--through openness of heart rather than frenetic resolve.
I only wish I would have had more mentors through the years who got these truths through to me during the frenzied days of my pastoring.
March 17, 2022
This is the greatest work on pastoring that I have read! I plan on re-reading it soon, and often!
July 25, 2022
Simply amazing
March 2, 2025
Incredible wisdom. I will read again and again. Each reading felt like therapy for this tired pastor, and provoked many, many challenges that humble me.
April 26, 2025
Martin used to be a pastor, but since publishing this book he’s apparently become a Zen Buddhist. Still, his zen like mediations on the work of pastoring are true and good, both refreshing and challenging. I expect I’ll return to this one in the years ahead.
August 6, 2012
I've read this book at least a dozen times. I have read it because it was recommended to me by someone I respect.
I've used it as a part of my daily reflection.
The book goes against pretty much everything I believe, everything I've read about leadership. There have been days when this book has challenged me, but most days the author just leaves me frustrated. Because the leadership he advocates is no leadership.
Think of any movement, revival, revolution, cause. Every one of them was started and led by someone who was leading.
There is nothing that is accomplished without someone leading.
God always uses people.
Things don't just happen.
God makes things happen through people and their gifts and talents.
That's why for me, this book only gets 1 out of 5 stars.
I've used it as a part of my daily reflection.
The book goes against pretty much everything I believe, everything I've read about leadership. There have been days when this book has challenged me, but most days the author just leaves me frustrated. Because the leadership he advocates is no leadership.
Think of any movement, revival, revolution, cause. Every one of them was started and led by someone who was leading.
There is nothing that is accomplished without someone leading.
God always uses people.
Things don't just happen.
God makes things happen through people and their gifts and talents.
That's why for me, this book only gets 1 out of 5 stars.
September 6, 2016
This short little book is excellent. His thoughts leave much to contemplate and consider. I have enjoyed reading it twice. I hope to read it once a year to continue to chew on the ideas that the author presents.
He pushes back on so many of the activities that pastors do today. I definitely recommend to any who are considering ministry and who are already actively engaged in ministry!
He pushes back on so many of the activities that pastors do today. I definitely recommend to any who are considering ministry and who are already actively engaged in ministry!
October 28, 2014
This is a book that a colleague passed on to me when I mentioned that I wanted to take some time to be reflective about my congregation and pray about what the congregation is next for all of us. It looks like a really unremarkable, forgettable book, but the reflections are wonderful. They are short meditations and they are calming and thought provoking. I love this book.
October 6, 2009
Thank you, Jonathan Carroll, for this most precious gift ...
It can work upon you and within you year after year: the sign of the wisest of wisdom.
It can work upon you and within you year after year: the sign of the wisest of wisdom.
September 19, 2013
I have read it daily, several times through. It centers me on what matters as a pastor- God and pointing people to God.
September 9, 2016
I feel like I need to commit these reflections to memory! There are certain books that are life-changing and I feel this is one of them. I will return to this time and time again!
January 26, 2017
I come back to this periodically. Reading a page or two of the book daily helps me to be realistic, be self-aware, and take care of myself.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews