Who mentored you?

Have you ever thought about the people on your journey that helped you get to where you are now?  If we are really honest with ourselves, none of us magically arrived to this junction in life.  Along the way we were blessed or possibly sidetracked by people who have assisted us in getting where we are.  The question for today is two-fold.  Who mentored you, and who have you mentored?

The definition for mentor is someone who serves as a teacher or trusted counselor.  In Greek, the word mentor is rooted in a word which means enduring, and can be defined as a sustainable relationship between a youth and an adult.  We even see evidence of this in Greek mythology with Mentor, Mentor was a friend of Odysseus and tutor of Telemacchus.  I have been blessed with several mentors, primarily professional and spiritual in nature.  I often go to these indivuals when I am in need of counsel, in times of jubilation, trial or just to simply say hello and thank you for being a part of my life.  I've even been fortunate enough to serve as a mentor to up and coming teachers trying to find their way in the business of educating young people.  Mentoring occurs naturally through friendship, collegiality, teaching and coaching.  Who's your mentor?  Who have you mentored?

Throughout history, there have been countless people that have been mentored by someone.  Let's see Elisha was mentored by Elijah.  The Blessed Virgin Mary was mentored by her cousin Elizabeth.  Susan B. Anthony was mentored by Elizabeth Cady Staton, who was in turn was  mentored by Lucretia Mott, a Quaker Minister and abolitionist.  Malcolm X served as a mentor to Minister Louis Farrakhan.  We even see examples of mentoring on the silver screen in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, as Harry Potter is mentored by Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane).  The challenge for today is; if your mentor(s) is (are) still alive, reconnect with them.  They would be thrilled to hear from you.  If you serve as a mentor to someone, check on them.  They may need an encouraging word or exhortation that only you can give, through the relationship that you have established.  If you don't have a mentor, find one.  You are not in the struggle alone.  Who's your mentor?  Who have you mentored?

Peace,
Karsten