Written by Dynamis Ministries | June 8, 2023
In the iconic 80’s film, The Karate Kid, the protagonist Daniel is a lonely misfit who forms an unlikely relationship with his neighbor and karate master. Mr. Miyagi trains Daniel in the ancient practice of karate and teaches him several life lessons along the way. In Good Will Hunting, a famous movie from the 90’s, Will Hunting is a genius who’s broken relationships and past experiences inhibit him from developing his full potential. Through the love from his therapist who never gives up on him, Will is able to break through and find healing and a hopeful future. These movies, and countless other blockbusters since, are feel good stories that leave us feeling encouraged and inspired. However, the amazing thing about these movies is that they don’t just have to be reserved for the Big Screen, rather, we can live out similar stories in our own lives. What these movies have in common that we can all participate in too is that they are stories of mentoring.
In its simplest form, mentoring is life on life generosity. It may not be the flashiest form of generosity, but it is certainly one of the most impactful. Mentoring is about pouring into the life of another by generously giving away our time, knowledge, professional expertise, social capital, spiritual/life wisdom and so much more to help the individual grow in their own life. It is an ongoing journey where we may not always see the immediate impact of our generosity, but the end result is totally worth it!
There are a lot of formal settings where mentoring can be implemented, such as through work programs or connecting with organizations that have this as their mission; however, it can be done informally as well. Many of us have life experiences, faith stories or professional expertise that we can generously share with others in a mentoring relationship. If that connects with you, consider someone in your life whom you can mentor. Maybe a young professional at work comes to mind who you can help develop into a leader. Or maybe there is a younger person from church or your neighborhood that you could walk alongside and provide guidance. Think about entering into a mentoring relationship and generously pour into their life.
On the other hand, maybe in this season of life a mentor is what you need. Maybe you need new skills or a perspective you do not currently possess and having someone pour into you can help you gain those qualities. If that’s the case, consider reaching out to someone that inspires you and ask them if they can help you in your development. In doing so you can not only experience personal growth yourself, but you can put yourself in a position to one day be a mentor to someone else.
Whatever mentoring relationship is best for your season of life right now, know that it is okay to approach someone and ask to mentor or be mentored. As you go about your day, spend time in prayer and thought, asking God if there is a person who you could engage in a mentoring relationship. If an individual comes to mind and you feel a nudge to act, take a step of faith and begin a generosity journey that will impact you and another in a way you may not be able to imagine!
