Reality Check

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ~ Acts 2:42

     Have you ever waited and waited for a major event in your life but somehow, when it arrives, you feel oddly surprised that it’s actually happening? That’s what I’m experiencing now. Pamela and I first seriously discussed coming to the seminary five years ago or more. Now I’m only 26 days away from receiving a call and 50 days away from graduation (both of which you can watch via livestream or recording; see details below), and I find myself asking, “Is this really happening? Am I really going to be sent out to a parish in a few months to be the real pastor for real people?” Don’t misunderstand me. I’m very excited to go do the Lord’s work, but I think most of my classmates would agree that the reality of the task ahead is daunting, even after four years of intense study and training. Another factor at play in this strange moment is that a man can get pretty comfortable living the seminary life. Spending the majority of the week immersed in an environment dedicated solely to the study and proclamation of the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions is awesome! I think it’s about as close to reliving Acts 2:42 as a person can find today, at least in the United States.

     That being said, our time here is quickly drawing to a close, and we’re trying to make the most of it. In the last few months, our family has enjoyed the following: Logan and Camden played YMCA basketball in January and February. I sang for CTSFW’s Symposia in January and some Concordia Publishing recordings in February. Pamela and I attended two fourth-year banquets (without any children—a real rarity). We made a trip to New England to visit some former seminary friends and see some significant historical sites during spring break in March. We attended two children’s symphony concerts in March. We celebrated four family birthdays in the span of 10 weeks from the end of January to the beginning of April. Logan embodied Alexander the Great for his Faces of History presentation at CC this week. And along the way were visits to the zoo, museums, and parks.

     Be sure to watch for a new post in about a month with information about the church and community that will become our new home this summer. In the meantime, please pray that my final seven weeks of classes go well, that the Holy Spirit will guide the placement process for all seminarians receiving calls this spring (both at CTSFW and CSL), and that all candidate families will be at peace and blessed by their calls.

Click here to be redirected to CTSFW's Call Day webpage.