Mentors...the freshmakers?

Weeeeeelcome BICK.

Nice to be back to the avenue of free thought. Don't get me wrong, I love writing about modernism and reading about nutrition and education, but it isn't the same as writing about my passions. I searched my mind and came up with today's topic, something I've been considering a while now and felt like getting something down about. This absurdly obscure topic that prior to my coming to faith I'd never encountered...mentors.

What is a mentor? I work with kids, am I mentor? What's the point of mentoring? What's it all about? Is it only for kids? Does it matter? All these questions rushed upon me as I first encountered this topic, but now my interaction with the subject goes much deeper. Allow me to share,

So there I was, existing (as I'm so prone to doing) in a state of confusion, disappointment and frustration. You see, for me, sin is a heavy burden that I am constantly struggling with. In addition to that, I was in a community, which was something I'd longed for for such a long time. I'm not very good at the whole social thing, not as good as I may appear to be, and so this was a blessing. However, even within this community I felt isolated.

I have a WIFE! A wife, how crazy is that? Me! This guy! A wife! I know, I'm still surprised myself. Anyways, what's that like, you may wonder. So do I, so did I, so will I ever consider such a thing. I don't know what to do, I don't know the procedure, you make it up as you go. However, I felt like, and still feel like largely, I'm not very good at this. I make mucho mistakes, I am selfish, I am overly obsessive, I am not the husband I promised to be. So I searched my community for support, I shared my shortcomings, and though they listened and responded with care and empathy, I felt insufficient.

Enter mentor. One day, after weeks (and I literally mean weeks) of screwing up and delaying, making up excuses and fighting the situation off, I sought out a Mr. White to ask him to mentor me. It had been dawning on me that I didn't have an example of faith, I didn't know what a Christian man looked like from my own childhood and I lacked that guidance. We met, we talked, we laughed, we shared and I felt myself being repaired. He's not a medical surgeon, and it's not about him anymore than it is me as individuals. We allowed ourselves to become part of a process wherein God used him to sharpen me, and convicted me to share with him. It was the thing I needed to repair, to reflect, to share and grow and understand what it means to live for my wife, live for my God and stop living for myself. It made a difference, it was a fresh maker (like the pun? see title, lololol)

Now, where am I? Obviously sinless and blameless...NOT. No, I still screw up, but we still meet, and I still share as much as I wish, knowing the more I hold back, the more I hold myself back.

See, here's the extra crazy part. Now I'm a leader, now I'm responsible for others, and now I feel called to be a mentor. I went from lonely, frustrated, and isolated to comforted and supported so that I can support. It wasn't to build me up, it was to equip me to do the same, it was part of something bigger. I look forward to my mentoring relationship and wonder whether I can do anything near what Joe did, before I realize that Joe simply listened and responded, remained obedient to his God and supported me. I think I can do that. It's not about me, it's about my mentoree (is that a word? It is now!).

All this rambling to say, are you supported? Are you alone? Really? Or are you being kept from having a relationship where you're able to share it all, be supported, be prayed for, and grow. It's not even about faith, it's about support. If you don't have faith, you still go through difficulties. I honestly think this type of a relationship can benefit anyone. Is it awkward to find someone? Not as much as you think. Seek it out, think about it, pray about it, and allow yourself to grow.

Boo yeah! Post over!