Celebrate & Embrace----------Mentors

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MLK Jr.'s  First name was originally Michael


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Celebrate & Embrace…………….Mentorship 


Last week, I noted the importance of parents connecting and passing on their knowledge, wisdom, and culture to the next generation. Taking this concept to the next level would include mentorship with an elder. 


Executives in the business and government sectors are often encouraged to connect with a mentor with the purpose of the mentee executive becoming a knowledgeable and wise leader.  Ideally, the mentor has the lived experience and success to impart valuable nuggets to a mentee.  In my current job, I have a mentor/coach, but I find myself mentoring my mentor.  This is not a criticism, my background on the job is more extensive than hers. I also mentor upcoming leaders.


Our heritage included elders in the form of aunts, uncles, grandparents, church-mothers, deacons, pastors, . . .etc.  who we would seek for counsel.  Often, they would see something and come to us with sage advice.  There was a comfort level with these connections even if the topics covered may not be comfortable to discuss.  The comfort came from seeing each other on some regular basis, which was the base of my last article.  The trust, the bond, the respect was established through family or church functions/services. 


Now it is easy to say Bob, times have changed, get with the program of the 21st century.  We have Teams, FaceTime, and Zoom which allow us to connect on a regular basis.  I agree. But why is it that I have to schedule face-to-face meetings with employees when many of us are deemed as remote staff?  I can tell you the two-dimension or virtual meetings are less effective than the three-dimension meetings.  In the latter, you become human to each other as strange as that sounds.  Our social components kick in and there is some satisfaction that comes from the live interaction. 


You may need a mentor, or you may need to be a mentor.  Believe or not our next generation craves a mentorship connection.  They want the blessing you got back in your day. 


Here is a prime example of Christ mentoring His disciples after washing their feet. 


John 13:12-20 

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 

13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 

15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 

16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 

17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 


Keep in mind Christ was 33 at this time.  He was younger than some of his disciples.  A mentor does not need to be an elderly person.  Let’s be honest, some older people do not have any sense and have not learned from their life experiences. They only repeat their mistakes.


As I said earlier, mentors are superior in experience, knowledge, application, and skills to those whom they mentor. They model what they say as Christ did with the humility lesson in foot washing.  This background makes it easier for the mentee to acknowledge the gift they are receiving and hopefully submit to the wisdom imparted to them.  Mentors will introduce mentees to a world of life that previously was beyond their own scope as you see in the passage above. 


Song of the Week


"Detail", 2022. Jonathan McReynolds




Lyrics


Lord it really blows my mind
I see your hands on my life
In the simplest things
Nothing really goes unplanned
Nothing's really happenstance
When it comes to me
I can see you in the ordinary places
I hear you in the little conversations
You give em' meaning when there ain't none
Mmm mmm mmm mm
Mmm mmm
So I want you in my routine
The typical, mundane, everyday things
Hmm mmm
Cause I know you make miracles

Every second
And every minute
I want you in it
Doing what only you do
Oooo with every moment
Just know you're wanted
In every detail
Mmm mmm mm
Mmm

Yeah I kinda think it's wild
The diamonds and the stars all shine
How you use the great and small
To light my life
So many ways to show that you care
In the fine print
You were right there
Always busy
Making more miracles

Every second
And every minute
I want you in it
Doing what only you do
Oooo with every moment
Just know you're wanted
In every detail

I know you're intentional about me
You're so good
It's too much to mention
When I pay attention
I see you make miracles

Every second
And every minute
I want you in it
Doing what only you do
Oooo with every moment
Just know you're wanted
In every detail

Every minute
I want you in it
Doing
What only you
Do Oooo
Do Oooo
Just know you're wanted
In every detail

In every detail
In every detail

Just know you're wanted
In every detail



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