As I come to the end of my journey of preparation for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, it seems appropriate to reflect on a quote that has stayed with me since 1991 when I first read it:

Today hardly one in a hundred considers how difficult and arduous it is faithfully to discharge the office of pastor. Hence many are led into it as something trivial and not serious; and afterwards experience teaches them, too late, how foolishly they aspired to the unknown. Others think themselves endowed with great skill and intelligence and promise themselves great things from their talent, learning, and judgment; but afterwards they experience too late how limited their equipment is, for their powers fail them at the outset. Others, while knowing there will be many serious battles, have no fear, as though they were born for contention, and put on an iron front. Still others who want to be ministers are mercenaries. We know indeed that all God's servants are wretched in the eyes of the world and common sense, for they must make war on the passions of all and thus displease men in order to please God.

—William J. Bouwsma's John Calvin: A Sixteenth Century Biography, p. 220

I guess you could say I had about eighteen years of reflection to prepare for my final examination yesterday by the Presbytery of Seattle (conducted on behalf of the Presbytery of New Brunswick). With thanksgiving to God, family, friends, and other advocates, I confess:

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3.7 NRSV)