I once heard someone say, “Jon, I have a doctorate in the school of hard knocks.” And then I replied, “Me too!” We talked for a while about the value of being still and the value of listening. This includes learning to listen to God and also learning to listen to mentors.
At least once in life, everyone has said, “I wish I had known that earlier,” or “I wish someone had told me that…” I’ve said that to myself and to my wife more times than I can count. Sometimes it’s a small morsel of wisdom, a piece of advice, or a relevant story at the right time can save your bacon. Listening to somebody who has walked a similar path before you is not just smart, it can be life altering. That person has the ability to point out the quicksand, the wrong road, and a myriad of other possible pitfalls. Repeating mistakes over and over can be self-defeating and discouraging.
That’s the value of the stories in Scripture. Moses is a graduate of the school of hard knocks. Abraham was, Jacob was, and many others. Let’s learn from their mistakes, and not make the same ones.
I want to encourage you on your life journey, find somebody you trust who has already walked the path of life. Yes, your path is your path, but there are many who have experienced many of the issues of life you are facing now or will face in the future. Hang with that person. Learn from them. Watch them. Sometimes, you can avoid a pit, confrontation, or battle by learning to make wiser decisions.
Acts 18:26 says, “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” Priscilla and Aquila mentored Apollos, and this resulted in a much-improved ministry for Apollos.
The Book of Titus speaks of older men training and mentoring younger men and older women training and mentoring younger women. So, in addition to us finding a mentor, we should consider being a mentor. Find someone to learn from. Find someone to mentor. A friend put it this way, “You just might become somebody’s bacon saver.”
