I have stumbled into the wonderful world of mentoring! My mentee and I are getting to know each other pretty well and we are making some wonderful memories already. For years I did not heed the yearning to mentor because I did what I typically do. I overthink and overwork ideas, situations and circumstances in my mind ever before they hit paper or reality. As a matter of fact, I sabotage them before they make it to reality. It’s hard to admit but often my biggest stumbling block is ME! I know it’s shocking, surprised me too (insert sarcasm here). But this is what happens when we rely on our own understanding and plans and fail to leave room for divine intervention. For me I had to realize that this also meant ‘my thought closet or my mind’. I could only hear my voice and see through my limited and shallow eyesight. Proverbs 16:9 tells us –we can make our plans but The Lord determines our step. I felt the need to inform God of all the reasons I could not mentor. I would go to my secret spot (sorry it’s a secret, can’t tell ya where it is) and think more and find more junk and trash to prove my case obviously dismissing God’s omnipotence and omniscience. After a year of this persistent yearning to mentor and filled with despair and excuses my prayer turned into this weird dialog. In my secret place, I finally declared ‘Lord I have no idea what to do with this. It’s been bugging me a long time. So here is what I am asking you to do. Make it plan; like looking at the handwriting on the wall -but in English please. No rhymes or riddles. Just work this thing out. Whatever may happen, I’m going to sit here and wait for you to move. I’m done! I’m tired!’ (Yep this is a real prayer) As soon as my rant was about done, I begin to feel lighter yet stronger. My circumstances and my situation had not changed but I had changed and my viewpoint had changed through God’s grace and His love. He waited for me, he pursued me until I came to the end of my limited self and surrendered to His.
The following day, I’m feeling encouraged and strong and I contact BB/BS and ran into the brick wall. “Thank you for your interest in working with Big Brother, Big Sister but we never seem to ‘keep lasting relationships with persons from the Southside. We are located on the peninsula and fear that tunnel traffic makes it difficult for the commute back and forth every week.” See God. I told you. This won’t work, the timing is not right. I have raised my kids and I’m out of touch with kids of this day. And you know I don’t do littles under the age of 8. But just before I wash my hands of the whole mentoring thing, I decided to tweet one more snippy shot about the whole thing. “WHAT! No BB/BS volunteer opportunity on the Southside #volunteer #volunteerhamptonroads”. The following day my twitter feed is on fire with volunteer opportunities and the easy process and training of getting started. I have not look back, I have no regrets -well not counting that whole faith, perseverance, obedience thingy.
They only require two hours a week to give insight, to share and to encourage -not to change. I worked myself into a tizzy thinking of how I could help my mentee change her ways. In case you were wondering, that god’s department -change and results.
We do the simplest things and have the beast laughter there is. I will keep you posted of our fun year together.
Pure & Lovely Gifts 