Commencement…Not Graduation
One of the best things about mentoring the Radical Mentoring way is commencement. We used to call it graduation. But graduation says, “I’m done.” Commencement says, “I’m beginning.” Just as Jesus sent out His mentees, commencement starts a new phase.
So, what begins for the mentee at commencement? As mentors, here are four things we want them to be intentionally thinking about and building a plan around as we wrap up our mentoring season…
- Accountability is now self-imposed. “For the last nine to twelve months it’s been a built-in part of the group. The discipline of reading a book and netting it out had a clear deadline each month. Now, reading’s up to me. I’ve been reading at a rate four times the national average, and the books have been about important stuff. Some haven’t been all that fun or popular or easy to read, but they’ve been helpful and I’ve built my reading habit.”
- Community is now up to me. “For a year, I’ve had a scheduled time to connect with other like-minded people who love Jesus, love me, and love spending time together. Now to continue these relationships as friends, I’ve got to initiate. I have to create time, make a call or send a text, put it on my schedule, and invest time in creating and maintaining close relationships. If I don’t, I’ll end up isolated again, I’ll lose the momentum from my group, and my growth will sputter.”
- Intentional focus on my family only continues if I make it happen. “I’ve got to come up with stuff to make life interesting for them and for me….stuff that draws us closer and keeps the fires burning. There are great ideas out there on the internet and it’s a great thing to discuss with your community and with your spouse, but it starts with you.”
- Pay it forward starts now. “I can never pay you back, so instead, I’m going to pay it forward. I’ll do for others what was done for me. Commencement marks an outward turn, it’s not about me anymore, it’s about Him. And when my life is about Jesus, the first place I’m drawn is to people. It’s what He told me to do, love others as I love myself. Starting at church. I have to connect, give, and get involved. I’m asking God to show me where He wants me to pay it forward, and who He wants me to influence.”
Over the course of this year, you as the mentor will come to love those sitting around your table. They become your friends and each other’s friends. True friends. Transparent. Vulnerable. Honest yet forgiving. They love each other.
But more importantly, they’ve come to know the love of their Heavenly Father. They know they are His adopted children. They know He will never disconnect from them…they can’t be un-adopted no matter what. So out of gratitude to God for His forgiveness and love, they go and make disciples.
Challenge: If you’ve been invested in, it’s time to invest in others. Time to begin helping others latch on to these truths and watch God transform them. It’s time to commence.
Scripture: Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:6-7)
This post originally appeared on radicalmentoring.com.
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