Embracing the Power of Mentorship in Life

Mentorship is a timeless concept, rooted in ancient stories and exemplified by figures like Jesus. It involves guidance, wisdom, and support, shaping our journey and helping us grow in character and faith. Jesus and his disciples, he is our Mentor, he is more than that, he is our savior, he is our Lord, he's our friend, he's our God. [00:01:04]

Bill Walton, a basketball player and broadcaster, was a remarkable person. After his basketball career, he went into broadcasting. Part of what's remarkable about that is that he was a stutterer. He said he was extremely shy and reserved when he was growing up. When he was 28, he said, "I learned how to talk, and that became my greatest accomplishment." [00:02:32]

John Wooden, the most successful coach arguably of all time, was an amazing mentor to his players. One of the things that he would say is, "You have to become a good person first, and then you might become a good basketball player." Numerous players, including Bill Walton, talked about how other coaches would rant about winning. [00:04:03]

John Wooden's philosophy was that the great contest is always within yourself, and if you give the best that you have to give, then you can walk out the court, whatever your court is. We're all on a court somewhere, we're all in the arena somewhere, then you can walk off with your head held high. [00:04:48]

Every year, John Wooden would gather his team, and these would be the greatest collegiate players in the country. The first session together is he would have them take off their shoes and teach them how to put on their socks. There's a good reason for this. If you're an athlete, you're never any better than your feet. [00:05:30]

Jane Albright, a fabulous successful coach, became a mentor. She would meet with John Wooden regularly, and she talked about how one time she asked him, "How will I know if I'm a great coach?" His answer was, "You won't know until after you've coached them for 20 years because it's not about the win-loss record." [00:06:03]

Mentorship is not limited by age or stage in life. It is a continuous journey of learning and growth. As we navigate our own stories, we must ask ourselves: Who is mentoring us, and whom are we mentoring? The relationships we cultivate can have lasting impacts, as seen in the lives of those like Jane Albright. [00:07:28]

The Bible provides examples of mentorship, such as Moses and Joshua, and Elijah and Elisha. Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit signifies the desire to carry forward the legacy and mission of his mentor. This illustrates the importance of seeking wisdom from those who have walked before us. [00:09:54]

The impact of mentorship can extend far beyond the immediate relationship, influencing future generations and creating a ripple effect of growth and transformation. You never know when you begin to mentor somebody what the ripples of it would be, but it is so deeply meaningful to your story. [00:09:37]

Every story needs a mentor. Who are the people that you are intentionally seeking wisdom from? If you don't have anybody like that in your life, just start to pray, "God, would you bring to my mind the names of somebody?" Then don't ask them right off the bat to jump into a full-blown mentoring relationship. [00:08:08]

There's another form of intelligence that's relational, and that goes on and on and on. You are able to invest in relationships and pour wisdom into other people as long as you're alive. That keeps going. Interestingly, those two forms of intelligence were uncovered by research by a man named Raymond Cattell. [00:08:40]

In our own lives, we should seek mentors who can guide us through challenges and help us grow in wisdom and character. At the same time, we should be open to mentoring others, sharing our experiences and insights. This reciprocal relationship enriches our stories and contributes to a legacy of growth and transformation. [00:10:29]