Mentorship

8. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

As you know all this week, I have been sharing with you some of the things that I do at the beginning of the year to help me make sure I begin on the right track for the New Year.   I am by no means claiming to be an expert on anything, I am simply sharing with you what has helped and worked for me in the past.   Some of these things may help you or maybe they will motivate you to begin to create your own traditions or practices. 

Today, I want to talk to you about mentorship.   I have learned over the years to search out people that are going in the same direction that I want to go and “serve” under them to learn from their knowledge and wisdom.   I have both spiritual and business mentors.  

This year I’m excited that I have taken on a new spiritual mentor and I am exciting already about the relationship that we have formed and all the things that I have learned from him in such a short time.   It is the most amazing feeling to have someone with more experience and wisdom to speak into your life and to encourage you and be a system of support for you no matter what you are going through whether successes, failures, or mistakes.     Sometimes we simply “mess up”.   It is so incredible to have someone there for you that loves you for just you and has no ulterior motive but to be there for you and invest in you and share your victories and defeats.   I lost one spiritual father (Archbishop Wilbert McKinley) in 2008 and gained another just recently and I am privileged to have found such favor.   

Not only do I have a spiritual mentor but I also have a business mentor.   Someone who is on a “way” bigger level financially and business wise that I am and I learn from his experiences, failures, and success stories.    Just watching him, make things happen without him even saying a word keeps me encouraged to dream bigger and let’s me know that my dreams are “so” achievable.    He always tells me to “keep moving.”  Even if the steps are baby steps.   Just “keep moving” and watch the progress that will be made.  He is such a phenomenal friend and business mentor.   

So all that I am saying is identify some people or even one to start that you respect and admire and begin to build a relationship with you.  Sometimes if these people “appear” to be inaccessible then volunteer in their organizations or businesses and you will be surprised just how much you learn from volunteering and your faithfulness will usually get you to eventually meet the person that you desire to mentor you. 

Please remember in mentorship that the efforts must be on your part.  You cannot just call someone and say “I want you to be my mentor.”  That is not how it usually works.   You must pursue that person.  They get that question all the time and the students that they take on are usually the ones that just start serving and volunteering and just start being in the places that they are and just quietly listening and learning.   Biblically, we see it all through the scriptures.   Jesus had his twelve that he mentored.  The Apostle Paul mentored Timothy,  Elijah mentored Elisha, Eli mentored Samuel there were schools of the prophets in the Old testament where the “sons of the prophets” were mentored and the list goes on and on. 

Again, people ask me all the time how I accomplish and do certain things in my life.   This is simply a glimpse of what I do.  There is so much more to it.  I really hope this helps. 

Tomorrow, I will close this week with sharing some more of my New Year’s tips and then on Monday, we will begin our New Year study.  I will start with a summary to catch everyone up and then we will proceed with the study of Matthew. 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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