Neah Bay, WA
It Is the Journey
by David Sternbeck
Some people are destination oriented and some people are journey oriented. I am definitely a person who is destination oriented. My wife is always telling me, “David, slow down, take some time and smell the coffee.” Or, “Don’t be in such a hurry to get 
there. Let’s enjoy the journey.” But if I am left to voice, “it’s about getting where I’m going!”
There are, however, some journeys that just necessitate a process of contemplating the journey. Seminary has been one of those periods in my life that has left me in constant thought, prayer, pondering and meditation.
When I began this journey, it was destination ordination. I actually thought I was a pretty bright amateur theologian and these guys aren’t really going to be able teach me very much that I didn’t already know. By my second class, the Means of Grace, I was having an eye-opening revelation of the Gospel! You see, I had been recruited out of Evangelical circles. These brothers and sisters know who Jesus is and they love the Word of God, but somehow they have lost their way concerning the Sacraments. It was then that I knew I had much more to learn about faith. At this point it became very clear to me that this was more, a lot more, about the journey than the destination.
My mentor, Bill Norton and I, have spent untold hours talking about these beautiful Lutheran
doctrines and how to better communicate these truths to my people. Looking into things like the distinction between Law and Gospel, the doctrine of vocation, the difference between theology of the cross and theology of glory. This work of God in Christ, that He has chosen us not because of anything we have done, but because of His great love for us. We are saved by grace through faith, it is a gift from God.
With every course my faith was being shaped; the roots of my faith were deepening. This time spent in Seminary has changed every area of my life. My marriage and family life, my personal devotion life, my ministry and the way I communicate the Gospel. There is not one place that has not been affected by this journey.
We have watched as God through Word and Sacrament has created, sustained and nurtured Faith in the lives of my people. There is no better place in this life to be than to watch the rhythm of His Grace moving in the lives of His people.
I turned in my last paper on Friday. I am nearing the destination leading to ordination. I have to say I am pulled in two directions. It has taken a lot of time in study. I have watched as my time has been taken from the people I am to minister to, so as to finish my education. At times I have looked at them and wondered, “Is this what Jesus felt when He looked at them
and thought, ‘They look like sheep without a shepherd.’”
The other part of me would very much love to continue my education. But for now I think it’s time to tend to the flock that Jesus purchased with His own blood. I would like to thank you, our partners in ministry, for your prayers and your support in our vision of seeing salvation coming to Native North America. I would like to thank Concordia Seminary for providing distance education, and to the Northwest District for all of their support. Thank you to Rev. Bill Norton, my mentor. Without his support I could not have made it this far. Thank you to Rev. Dr. Don Johnson who saw Christ in my life and made a commitment to bring my Call forward. And mostly, I give thanks to Jesus Christ, who has loved me with an everlasting love, who laid down His life, forgave all my sins and has given me life, everlasting life, that can only be found in Him.