Who will you be?

If university life is nearly over, and the world of paid work only a stones throw away, then this is a must read.

Once work starts, you're out on you own.  No more motorway in front of you.  You get to decide which road to travel, what luggage to carry, the names of your companions, and when you've arrived.  You are now the one responsible for who you are, and for who you become; not your parents, your school, your tutor or your environment.  You'll begin to discover who you are.  It's a journey for a life time.

Many of us, of course, are swept along on the tide, succumbing to the slow drip of the cultural pressure around us to want more, work harder and focus on self.  Or we find ourselves behind the wheel of a car controlled by the back-seat drivder of our insecurities - permanently driven to hide or to succeed (depending on our particular demon).  And if you're reading this thinking that insecurities are only for the feeble, you're in for a surprise.  Most of the most succesful have a bucket full inside them.  I'd be surprised if you're different.

So who will you be?

Here's my baker's dozen worth of tips for arriving at the end of the journey with the character that you mean to have when you set out:

1.   find Christian friends to be in honest community with, because without then you'll fade,    
2.   take your faith to work, and let it out to get some exercise,
3.   be the same person, whatever you're doing,
4.   never lose your passion for justice, and stay friends with the poor,
5.   constantly ask God who he says you are, and believe that and only that,
6.   be honest, in everything, always,
7.   don't forget to be wise as a serpent, as well as gentle as a dove,
8.   don't live in tension with your workplace, pastor the flock that God puts around you,
9.   take responsibility and decide, you won't mauture if you don't,
10.   treasure your mistakes, it's when you learn most,
11.   be as good at what you do as you can be, working well is a spiritual endeavour,
12.   love your enemies, and bless those who denigrate you, and you'll be amazed at the   results, and
13.   seek Kingdom transformation, don't just aim to survive.

May God help us all.  It's not easy, but it's fun.  As you're about to discover.

This article, taken from 'Fusion News', was written by James Featherby

James is a partner in a City law firm, where he has worked for 20 years.

He co-leads www.beingchurch.com and is a chairman of www.cityprayerbreakfast.com.

He is also a director of Fusion.