by Joe Stowell, CU President

Here is a big personal congrats from me to all the seniors who will walk the stage on May 9. You’ll walk up onto the platform as a Cornerstone student and leave the platform as an alumna! But that short journey from your seat and back again is symbolic. It symbolizes the reality that your life is a journey … a work in progress … an adventure with lots of stops, turns, challenges, excitement, disappointments and delights.

On that Saturday one week from now, your life journey will depart from CU-land and head into new territory. And as you look back to the border of college world, you’ll see me and a lot of others waving goodbye, throwing kisses, thrusting our thumbs up in the air and wishing you the best!

So, before you move on, here’s a little advice from a guy who is rooting for you to make the best of your journey:

• Make good choices. One of the most important pieces of advice I have ever been given is that “Your life is not made by the dreams you dream but by the choices that you make!” So choose good friends who will inspire you to become better; choose what is best for others when you are tempted to make life all about you; choose to do God’s good and perfect will … He loves you and wants you to be safe and successful. Choose to work hard and play hard. Choose to care for those who hurt and are in need. Choose to forgive. Choose to invest in things that last, and choose to resist the hollow pursuit of a life that is focused on material world.

• Make the most of the moment. Life is fragile. It’s easy when you are young to think that you are bulletproof and that life will go on forever. Not true. Live as though you only have today. Keep short accounts on sin. Don’t let the little things make you grumpy and bitter. Tell the most important people in your life how much you love and appreciate them. Commit intentional acts of kindness daily to strangers and acquaintances, and keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the only one who won’t disappoint you!

• Remember who you are. Your sense of identity is a huge issue. We tend to act out our perception of ourselves. So don’t forget that you are a follower of Jesus … a member of the “Jesus Nation”! This prized identity makes you different than most everyone else in your life. Wonderfully different, because Jesus-followers live by His ways, His wisdom, His will, His passions and His mission. He is the real deal and has a take on life that is revolutionary. If you are looking for a really cool (and sometimes challenging) adventure, keep Him out in front of you and stay close!

• Take the Bible and prayer seriously. You’ll need them a lot.

So, here’s to your journey! We are grateful that God led you to spend some of the most significant years of your life with us, and we will be proud to call you Cornerstone alums!