"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” //Luke 9:23-25 (NIV Version)
Today, I come to the end of a journey that I've walked for five years. Today, I stand at the starting line of a new marathon that may last for a lifetime. Today, I am called to the Bar. Many people have asked me what it means to be called. Simply put, to be called to the Bar means to be legally qualified to represent your client in court and to argue on his behalf. Historically, it was used to refer to wooden barriers in old courtrooms, which acted as a divide between the public area and the space in front of the judges that was reserved for those having business with the Court. And even today, if you go into a modern courtroom, it still refers to the closed-off area in front of the judges that are reserved for lawyers arguing before the Court. In short, to be called means you now have the right of audience before the Court. But to be called also means 'to have a calling'. A calling to do the will of the one who called me to carry out his purposes. And as I start my first week as a legal associate, I am reminded to look back on where and why I started on this journey. To remember that it is not money, skills or status that makes a good lawyer but a passion to serve and a willingness to be used. For his purposes always, and not my own. So I stand at the starting line and I lay down all my achievements again. To build an altar to you, committing the rest of my career as a lawyer to you. Do with me what you will. So that as I walk into this working world, I will never lose sight of what I love. That daily, I will take up my cross and follow you. Where you lead me, always make my heart willing to go.
"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” //Luke 9:23-25 (NIV Version)
Today, I come to the end of a journey that I've walked for five years. Today, I stand at the starting line of a new marathon that may last for a lifetime. Today, I am called to the Bar. Many people have asked me what it means to be called. Simply put, to be called to the Bar means to be legally qualified to represent your client in court and to argue on his behalf. Historically, it was used to refer to wooden barriers in old courtrooms, which acted as a divide between the public area and the space in front of the judges that was reserved for those having business with the Court. And even today, if you go into a modern courtroom, it still refers to the closed-off area in front of the judges that are reserved for lawyers arguing before the Court. In short, to be called means you now have the right of audience before the Court. But to be called also means 'to have a calling'. A calling to do the will of the one who called me to carry out his purposes. And as I start my first week as a legal associate, I am reminded to look back on where and why I started on this journey. To remember that it is not money, skills or status that makes a good lawyer but a passion to serve and a willingness to be used. For his purposes always, and not my own. So I stand at the starting line and I lay down all my achievements again. To build an altar to you, committing the rest of my career as a lawyer to you. Do with me what you will. So that as I walk into this working world, I will never lose sight of what I love. That daily, I will take up my cross and follow you. Where you lead me, always make my heart willing to go.
