If a parent, maybe you can identify with the following. It has been humbling for me to see our three kids, all of whom are now married, go to their spouses for advice instead of me and my wife. I assume I did the same when I newly married. That said, it’s interesting. With all due respect to our two sons-in-law and our daughter-in-law, each of whom we like a great deal, they don’t have our same life experiences.
As interesting is watching our kids as they matured, making the same mistakes we did when we were their age. Again, not unlike us in our youth, they didn’t go to those in the know. If like me, you’ve probably said to yourself or them, “I wish you would have asked me about that”. It’s just part of human nature…to not learn the lesson without making the mistake.
Here are some questions for us to ponder:
- How would you feel if you had someone in your life who knew you better than anyone else; knew your strengths and weaknesses, your likes and dislikes; what it is you were designed for, your life’s calling?
- What if that person were always there for you, always present and never letting you down; constantly there to pick you up no matter how many times you fell down, always helping you course correct and prepare for the future?
- What if that person loved you so much that his or her ultimate goal was your happiness, your peace, joy, and fulfillment?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a mentor like the above? Given my first 57 years, with hindsight what it is, I could have saved myself many, many challenges. Assuming I had the maturity and humility to listen, having an all-knowing, ever-present, all loving-mentor would have been a game changer.
I have some good news and some bad news. Let’s do the bad first. There is no one on this earth, for the history of humanity, who has been capable of 1-3 above. With best efforts and really great people in many of our lives, the above is just an impossibility. Blame it on the human condition.
Here’s the very good news. What is described above in 1-3 does exist in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
- As evidenced by His torturous death on the Cross, He loves you unconditionally, wanting the very best for you.
- It’s scriptural (Jeremiah 1:5 and 29:11, John 10:10) that God His Father, made you for greatness, knowing intimately your every gift and talent.
- Through His Holy Spirit, He’s always with you…always.
There’s an expression in the recovery program (AA), that I believe can serve all of us, no matter who we are or what our experiences. That is, “let go and let God”. How do we know our Heavenly Mentor….by being in relationship with Him and abiding by His Will. We do that through prayer and the Sacraments (if Catholic), through encounter and community.
Doing the above, which is a function of embracing God’s unconditional love, will result in for you:
- The unimaginable being achievable
- Living Heaven here on earth
- Experiencing true Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment
As always, please reach out to me at [email protected], with questions, comments, concerns, challenges and/or prayer requests.
God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfilment!!!
Mark Joseph