Eyes Wide Open

Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Here is a typical conversation concerning a child that one is likely to hear at a family gathering:
“Oh, he’s just like his Father!” says one Auntie.
“I think he takes after his sister.” says another.
“But when he speaks, he sounds like his uncle!” says yet another.

I have come to greatly appreciate mentors in my life. While in college one of my Resident Advisors once pointed me to Hebrews 13:7 and encouraged me to pay attention when I am around other men and women of faith. “Imitate them,” he said. Never before had I felt the freedom to be so un-original. Seriously, the last thing a college student wants to do is a be unoriginal. But my friend and mentor wasn’t encouraging me to be a copy-cat. In fact, I discovered great wisdom in learning to be like those who were a bit further along in the game and whose trees were producing fruit.

Finding one’s own voice is a process that takes a long time. Along the way it is seasoned and tenderized in all sorts of ways. Staying with the food metaphor, what sorts of ingredients ought to go into your casserole (or as we call it in Minnesota, your Hot Dish)?

Over the next week or so I will offer a series of posts on the subject of human growth and development and our roles of being both Mentors and Mentees (Christianese Translation: Christian Growth and Discipleship). What things might be important in seeking to become a more-faithful and/or mature follow Jesus? A good place to start might be to ask the following question: