Watched this video with my girls in Red Hill last weekend and because of where I am in the midst of life and LifeXchange, some things jumped out at me:
http://vimeo.com/46266589
The core of mentoring in LifeXchange is discipleship and the similarities between Jesus' calling of his disciples and the LX process struck me. In a few weeks' time, some of us will be going into Ocean View to the blokke and go up to some of the most dangerously 'hopeless' youths to tell them that they have been chosen to be part of the LifeXchange programme because we think that they have great potential. Then, it's their choice if they want to 'Come, follow us'. That's the start of their unique journey for both mentee and mentor.
We want Christian mentors specifically because we know that only God can bring true transformation (and how can you bring someone into a relationship with God if you don't know Him?). But obviously we are not Jesus, so for us the discipleship journey is more like when Paul writes, "follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1) The thing I find really exciting in this, as I mentioned in my last post, is that none of us is perfect. And this creates the space for learning and transformation in both mentee and mentor through the relationship.
I also watched the film 'Chasing Mavericks' at the cinema last night, and loved the way they explored the relationship between Frosty and Jay. Especially the way Frosty had to realize that there was a relationship between them, and he could bring some good influence into the boy's life if he chose to be active in the relationship. And then look at how both of them grow over time, because of the relationship they had and the input that both of them brought to it. Really, for me, all mentoring comes down to is intentional relationships. And I suppose the same is true for discipleship; an intentional relationship with God.
Going back to the Nooma video, I was particularly challenged by one of the discussion questions we explored after watching it. So I'll leave it with you as well:
Would you consider yourself to be a disciple?
