Daily Prayer - 01/15/2011

So, Who is YOUR Mentor?

 19 So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" 21 He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

1 Kings 19:19-21

So, who is your Mentor? It is a most serious question, which I pray that you will take the time to contemplate. The value of how we have traveled the paths of our life – are traveling them now – or envision to traveling them in the future of our remaining years, very often and most critically are influenced by those whom we seek to be our guides. And to suppose that you do not need a trusted guide to help chart the map of your life’s direction is, I believe, a rather foolish assumption indeed.

One of my older daughters is married to a wonderful man, who’s “calling” in life is to help plan and lead groups on Christian wilderness experiences. Its exciting work; and what a blessing it is to be able to labor at that which one so dearly loves to do. During this present economic slump that our country is in, I have often stopped to wonder on how his business is holding up. At a time when most of us are cutting financial corners in order to make the ends meet, are individuals and groups slashing the “guide” from the budget and setting off into their wilderness experiences on their own? Are folks just forging out on their own into vast out-of-the-way backwoods places, without someone to show the way?  My guess is “no”. Who of us would attempt to set off into the unknown wilds without the expertise of someone who has already been there, and who can lead us safely to the other side of the journey’s end?

And yet, far too many of us set off on the adventure of our daily lives without such a guide to help plot the course of life’s often messy journey. Why? Do we feel we can make it all on our own – that “rugged, I-can-pull-myself-up-by-my-own-bootstraps” individualism in us? Too proud? Too old? Too embarrassed? Whatever the reason, a vast majority of the folks I know have no one to really turn to when the terrain gets rough, or when they come to a fork in the trail on which they are struggling. To have someone, or even a few someone’s, acting as a life guide – not to tell us what to do – but walking the road of decision-making with us, can be the most endearing, and most important, relationship that we can have during the years given us.

In the lectionary passage for today, from 1 Kings, Elijah hears the voice of God, who directs him to leave his place of hiding and to go and search out Elisha, son of Shaphat, and to anoint him as Elijah’s own prophetic successor. And so the mentoring relationship between the prophet Elijah and the future-prophet of God’s word, Elisha, is begun, and will continue for many chapters and verses to follow. This relationship, which must have embraced many years, was surely one of endless conversations, of devout listing and learning from the wisdom and experience of Elijah, and of almost ceaseless prayers together, for their ministry and for each other. A long and patient mentoring relationship that would prepare Elisha for the awesome responsibilities that God had called him to, in his time and era.

I can testify to you today that I, too, have been blessed with such a mentoring over the past twenty years of my journey. It is a relationship that had it’s beginnings in a small church office on the poor side of St. Louis, and is one that has continued to grow, and as such, has continued to nurture me, even today. My mentor and I have journeyed so many difficult roads together, and have shared, too, in great rejoicing over the years. And at each step of this trek together, my beloved mentor has gracefully been there for me: not demanding or directing my each stride or decision, but rather listening – praying with me – and raising the questions that I need to hear, in order to better find the answer for myself. These past two decades have been ones of drawing wisdom from the “well” of the wise and experienced one, who has himself struggled along and walked these roads before me. It has been a time of being drawn deeper into the spirit of myself, through the unfailing questioning and love of my mentor. And like Elisha, I continue to listen and absorb this insight and advice which is a gift before me, even today.

So, again: who is your mentor? Who is it that you can turn too – in the most joyous as well as terrifying moments of your life – who can be trusted to help you navigate the storms and even the tranquil moments of day-to-day life? Who, out of everyone you know, can be that wise and trusted counselor? Is there that someone who is there for you – completely; in body, mind and spirit – and into whose hands you would place your most treasured gift – your very life?

I lift up my most grateful thanks to you, my God, for the gift of those who have helped shape my life, and to realize your purpose for me. May I always be open to the wisdom – experience – and truths that they have to offer. May I always be open to accept the criticism which is learning, and the love which is life-giving. Help me to always hear your voice in the “sheer silence” of our conversations, that I may continue to grow in spirit and truth, and in the ways which glorify you, my Lord and my God.

Amen.

Rev. Michael Kirchhoff