The Road Less Traveled

By Tim Shirmer

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." That is an excerpt from Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken." In this poem Frost is talking about his decision to become a poet. Frost describes the road of a poet as the road less traveled. The road taken to become a pastor can also be thought of as the road less traveled.

I grew up in small town and my whole life I went to the Lutheran Church just down the street from my house. When I was kid, the thought of being a pastor never really entered my mind. Neither of my parents were church workers of any kind, so there wasn't a significant influence from them. It wasn't until my senior year that the thought of being a pastor crossed my mind. While I was considering the Holy Ministry as a career I heard the Rev. Michael Scudder, Concordia Theological Seminary Admission Counselor, was going to be in Kearney, Nebraska, to talk with guys about becoming pastors. After talking with him I was convinced I wanted to go to Christ Academy at CTS. Those two weeks at Christ Academy gave me the true idea of what seminary life would be like and a pretty good example of what it is like to be a pastor. It was during those two weeks that the desire to offer myself to the Holy Ministry started. It was amazing to be in a place where I was not the only person in the world thinking about being a pastor. It was also at Christ Academy that I really fell in love with the liturgy and the traditions of the church. I learned so much about the church, the Scriptures, and what it really means to be a Lutheran. I am currently a student at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, pursuing a Secondary Education degree with plans to go to the seminary upon graduation. Even so the big question still to be asked is, "Why become a pastor? Why pursue such a career, or rather such a lifestyle?"

As I thought about these questions a variety of ideas ran through my mind. Some of those thoughts were the following: Why am I pursuing a career in which the pay isn't very good, the chances of moving often are possible, and I could end up thousands of miles away from home? As a pastor I would be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and away from my family from time to time. Why have I chosen the road less traveled?

The problem with the dilemma stated above is that I was focusing too much on myself. Being a pastor is not about the individual, but it is about Christ. It has to do with being in communion with God and others. I chose to pursue the Holy Ministry not for my own benefit, but to preach the Gospel of Jesus to the people of this world; to preach in the hope that those before me would be changed by the Holy Spirit, through the Word and water of Holy Baptism, and come to know the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I have a desire to teach what Lutheranism is in a world of chaos and individualism; to provide a solid foundation based upon Christ crucified for people in need. Pastors also have the great gift of being able to sit at the bedside of a dying parishioner and provide them peace through Christ Jesus. They have the gift of giving him or her hope of eternal life with Christ in heaven. I have the desire to teach the people of the church, as well as comfort them in times of trial and despair; to give them the body and blood of Christ, which brings life and the forgiveness of sins; to give them comfort from Christ through Holy Absolution, and point them to Christ in times of need.

It is because of these desires that I wish to offer myself to serve in the Holy Ministry; to serve the Lord, preach His Word, and help those in need. That is why I have chosen the road less traveled.

Tim Schirmer is a student at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. He also served as a counselor at Christ Academy 2004.