Who Is Wise? Cling to Him - Being a Disciple
Mentors are important because they offer a wisdom and an experience that can prevent you from making the same mistakes that they did.
St. Francis De Sales says that in order to have true devotion it must be done carefully, frequently and promptly. This takes discipline and it takes practice. Think of a basketball coach that spends time coaching a player; most of the improvement of the player doesn’t necessarily come during the coaching session but through the practice that the individual does on their own. The coach can help correct a bad posture for a free throw but it’s the hours of practicing free throws, using the techniques that the coach has given that helps the athlete do them carefully, frequently and promptly.
As growing disciple, we need these kinds of mentors in our lives. A good mentor knows what to look at, what to look for, and can offer counsel and perspectives that will be of great benefit to us on our journey. Some mentors are with us throughout our whole life, some are for a short period of time and some may even just be a one time conversation.
Sirach 6:32-37 says:
If you are willing, my son, you will be taught, and if you apply yourself you will become clever. If you love to listen you will gain knowledge, and if you incline your ear you will become wise. Stand in the assembly of the elders. Who is wise? Cling to him. Be ready to listen to every narrative, and do not let wise proverbs escape you. If you see an intelligent man, visit him early; let your foot wear out his doorstep. Reflect on the statutes of the Lord, and meditate at all times on his commandments. It is he who will give insight to your mind, and your desire for wisdom will be granted.
When we are young, mentors are often given to us through our parents, teachers, sport coaches, etc. As you transition into college and the adult life the need for these mentors remains but the responsibility in finding them is up to you. It can be easy to feel, that by the time we are adults, that we should have things put together and figured out.
Mentors are important because they offer a wisdom and an experience that can prevent you from making the same mistakes that they did. When you have mentors who know you well, they can be even more helpful because they know your tendencies and struggles and can teach more specifically the things that you need. In short, it’s essential that we seek out the individuals in our life that can “train us up” in their ways…individuals that can disciple us. I’m sure everyone reading this can identify someone in their life that they look up to and desire to be like.
Here are some examples of people you might consider asking to walk with you, to share their life with, invest in you, etc.
Parents - Your parents have known you your whole life. They are also the most consistent and permanent mentors you can have throughout your entire life.
Spiritual Director - A spiritual director is someone that you have trusted with your spiritual life and asked them to help direct you. Most people who have a regular spiritual director will meet with them monthly and practice a voluntary obedience to any counsel received from them. For a lay person, I don’t think a spiritual director is absolutely necessary but would recommend at least going finding a good priest that becomes your regular confessor. The goal is that someone can help look at the tendencies in your spiritual life, that knows you well, and can give better counsel as a result.
Faith Coach - I encourage you to find at least one adult that can guide you in your walk of faith that you trust to give you good counsel as needed. Meet with them regularly. Ensure that this adult has an interest in knowing you and helping you. The goal of this relationship is to help you not only grow in your relationship with Christ but also to encourage you in your vocation and to hold you accountable to living out your faith as a missionary disciple.
Other Mentors - Be a learner through reading books and blogs, listening to podcasts, etc. Find experts in the areas you are desiring to grow and “cling to them” so that you can be great in whatever you do. Your Faith Coach should be able to give you some ideas of where to start in finding these to learn more about your faith.
The Saints - Take time throughout your life to get to know the Saints so that they can be a part of walk with Christ as well. They are truly active mentors in our life and point us towards Christ.
Jesus Christ - While it seems obvious, sometimes it can be missed that Jesus is our greatest mentor. He knows the Father better than anyone and is the way in which we can be with God someday in heaven. By going to Mass and Confession, praying daily, and reading Sacred Scripture we are guided by Christ to heaven.
As you can see, God has given each of us plenty of people in our life to guide us and help us. By committing to growth through these different relationships, you commit like an athlete does to the practices and the disciplines required to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Some Considerations for Prayer:
Who are the people in your life right now that you desire to be like in some way (you desire to know what they know or do what they do)?
Who might God be calling you to reach out in order to learn from, even if it’s just a one time meeting?
What priest could you cling to that you can go to confession to regularly?
If you are an older sibling, you are in a sense a mentor already to your younger siblings, even if only through your example. How can you be a better mentor to your younger siblings?