I wrote the book (The
Firstborn Son: a Curse, a Gift, or a Calling) because of my desire to
mentor others coming after me. I have spent several years as a youth athletic
coach and have been blessed with some wonderful friendships and relationships.
The youth and adults have taught me some amazing lessons. My vow to them is that I will live a life that will not bring shame to
them. Especially for the youth, I will live an exemplary life that will
allow them to consistently have a source of mentoring. It is amazing to hear a
young man say, ―I thank you for being the consistent male figure in my life
even in the tough times.
How about you? Why are you a counselor, teacher, adviser, coach,
trainer, or mentor to another life? In the same breath why have you as a
scholar, trainee, student, novice, or an apprentice sought the advice of
another? What if mentoring was actually designed more for the mentor instead of
our common assumption that it benefits the apprentice most? It is no question
that a mentor gives advice to one or many who follow his/her lead, techniques,
theories, and more. Yes indeed, there is an aura of blessings to be transferred
from the life of the most experience or predecessor to the successor. Yet, let’s
not dismiss or misplace the power of monuments.
A statue, building, or other structure erected to
commemorate a famous or notable person or event is a monument. The mentor’s
ability to teach effectively always relies on monuments of events he/she has erected
in their lifetime. These moments are commemorated either to remind us never to
return to the pain of such a circumstance, or embolden us for the future mountainous
obstacles we are yet to encounter. These are memorials which have taught incredible
personal and/or professional lessons. It is critical to remember they are
simply memories which have no power to define us, especially if painful
memories, noting life’s rapid changes. The life of a mentor is empowered most
by the legacy and exemplary life he/she must live daily despite past failures
or accomplishments. The mentor must live
in the eternal now in order to make the greatest impact.
Take note of the following conversation between a mentor and
his apprentice (2 Kings 2:9-10):
9 When they
had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I
am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your
spirit be upon me.”10 He said, “You have asked a hard
thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you,
it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
Elijah refused to let his mentoring impact on Elisha rest on
all of the great things he had watched him (Elijah) accomplish by God’s power
in the past. It all rested on assurance he would receive from God in that
moment.
If you like this post visit The Firstborn Son website to join our email list, find more resources, as well as see if we are speaking in your area soon. Kudos to organizations like @mentorNational, and Washington State Mentors.
