Here’s a tenuous link for free: that diary was one of the best mentors I ever had. It helped me process my experiences and gave me an outlet for my feelings; it both challenged me and built my confidence. It listened. It didn’t judge. It was faithful. Have you ever had a mentor you feel that way about? Are you that kind of mentor to your young people?
Anyway, back to the story. Losing something precious is a very powerful emotion. If you ask your mentee that question, I’m sure you will quickly get into a very interesting conversation. But interesting conversations alone are not mentoring. So take it further – obviously if they open up about losing someone close to them that will need careful attentiveness – but ask them how it felt to lose that thing. Don’t have pre-prepared answers or too much of a destination in mind but ask them to tell you the parable of the lost sheep (they’ll probably know it, but if not, be ready to explain the story). It might be fun to read it, but replace ‘sheep’ with the item they lost! Even, if appropriate, to put their name into the story. The point is that those powerful feelings you felt when you lost that special something is how God feels about every single one of us. He’s an active God, purposefully chasing us down and looking out for us.
Making Bible stories personal, tangible and relevant is one of the most crucial skills you can teach a young person. How are you going to do that with, and for, your young mentees?
My carelessness contributed to losing my backpack – what threats are there that could cause you to ‘lose your faith?’ • What’s the most precious thing you’ve ever found?
- What is God most excited about finding in you?
- What are you most excited about finding in God?
- How motivated are you about finding God?
- Where do you most easily find God?
- Which Bible verse is the most personal to you? Why?
Joel Toombs has an MA in Christian mentoring and has written the Grove booklet Mentoring and young people. He is a mentor in the music industry and a youth worker.
