Seeking a Trusted Servant

My daughter graduated from Baylor Law School this summer. We're definitely very proud of her. She's already at work doing what she has worked years to be able to do.
The graduation ceremonies were impressive and, suprisingly, not at all stuffy.
All of our encounters with BaylorLaw School have been impressive. Included in each event or communication we've had with any of the faculty is the very clear message that the law school's commitment is to develop lawyers who are servants. Afterall, people come to lawyers when there is a problem - sometimes a crisis or tragedy - but always a serious matter that requires an expert. The circumstances are almost always unwelcome and the client is often confused or afraid and feels particularly vulnerable. It's so important that the lawyer be someone of competence and absolute integrity as the client is in no position to handle their situation alone.
I don't think I've ever thought of a lawyer quite that way before. My daughter says that the law students hear this message repeated in each class over the three years in law school - in virtually every class by every professor.
It occured to me that the same could be said of pastors. People rarely drop in to see a pastor for no reason at all - especially if they aren't in the habit of attending church. Folks seek out the counsel of a pastor - or visit a church for the first time - when they are at a crossroads of sorts. Perhaps the loss of a relationship or job... perhaps a devastating diagnosis....the non-attender (even if they are a believer) is prompted to seek spiritual answers when there is fear, confusion, or pain of some kind in their life.
I wonder if our seminaries are as diligent about drumming the same kind of message into the minds of the thousands of young would-be pastors attending classes this year.
I wonder if the average pastor in the pulpit is alert to the reality that each week as he stands to preach from God's Word, the person sitting in his church who he has never seen before is only there because something in his life isn't working or making sense on this day. The stranger isn't there because things are just swell and he had nothing better to do on Sunday morning. That stranger is in his audience because he needs to hear a message that contains answers.... hope....and assurance that something is true and that Someone cares.