Previous page | Main ALOVE site Archive   Did you call me? ... : back to vocation page    OK- You have 70-odd years here on this earth, minus 16 for growing up: So what you gonna do with your time? ALOVE offers up some tips for those of you trying to decide. ‘Calling’ is a funny word. What does it really mean and how does it apply? Some people seem to have a ‘calling’ from a very young age and are fortunate to be able to slip into doing the job they were ‘called’ to do. For many, many others it’s not so easy and they can sometimes feel like driftwood floating through life with no particular place to go. Of course, our vocation doesn’t define us, but it does give us self-esteem, allows us to feel like we’re contributing and, as Christians, can be a wonderful vehicle for helping others through the works of our hands and the friendships it facilitates. Here are some tips to hep you find some direction into you life whether you’re choosing subjects to take for GCSE’s or heading off down the job centre. Do you have a burning vocation? If so then learn as much as you can about it: If you feel called to be a nurse find out what qualifications you need- how should that affect your GCSE or A-Level or University choices? Do you even need to go to college? Then start to ask the more detailed questions: What type of nurse would you like to be? Do you want to work overseas? If you don’t have a burning vocation/ dream yet then follow the advice below to start uncovering your potential. Ask your parents and teachers. Look, this may seem like the very worst idea but actually your parents and teachers have a bit of subjectivity when it comes to seeing what your are good at. Ask them to make a list of the things thy think you’re good at and then discuss with them what jobs might be suitable for you to get into further down the road that use those skills. List your skills and passions. Often the passions that God puts in our heart are a good indicator of what we were made to do. Write down a list of the things that you are truly passionate about: Is it fighting poverty and injustice? Talking to the homeless? Writing about films? Working with young people? Saving the rainforests? Teaching people how to realise their potential? Playing sports? From these ‘clues’ it will be much easier to recognise the areas of life where you will be passionate about getting stuck in and you can get some direction. Get involved in Church. Work out how best to serve at church. Try different jobs from serving the coffee at a meeting, working with other people in your local community or praying on the ministry team. As you help out in different ways you’ll soon discover what you love doing for God’s people. Talk to someone already working there. So you want to be a pilot? Go and talk to someone already doing that job- ask around at church or school and find a contact then ask as many questions as you can about the job they do. You might find out that it’s not for you after all, or perhaps their responses will convince you even more that this is the right thing for you to do. Take a year out with ALOVE. If you’re coming up to finishing school/ college and are having to make some quick draw decisions you’re not entirely sure about yet- why not take a year out. It can be life changing taking some time out of the academic treadmill and earn you some real life experience. Try ALOVE’s training programmes and let your faith and self-knowledge grow. From here you might find deciding what to do next a whole lot clearer. Pray. As you chew these decisions over in your mind commit them to God. In the western world these days we have a very set path for our young people to follow but God doesn’t work within our systems. He may have plans for you that are very different and, by taking the advice above and exploring your potential and giftings and being proactive in finding your place in life, you are far more likely to discover them. Don’t bury your head in the sand or just follow the crowd. : back to top : back to vocation page Youthwork - The Partnership ... ALOVE, Youthwork Magazine, Youth For Christ, Spring Harvest and Oasis are working together to equip and resource the Church for effective youth work and ministry.