coffee with a mentor

in the midst of a hectic weekend i was able to enjoy a cup of coffee with a mentor…

wow, i’m glad to be back home with my family. i was home all week while my wife and kids were away visiting grandparents in henderson, nv. on friday she flew into the medford int’l airport and, after a monthly youth outreach we do, i drove down to meet her in southern oregon. i arrived around 3am saturday morning, but that was just the start of a busy weekend.

i woke up saturday morning around 8am in order to have coffee with an old high school math teacher of mine. yes, he is a mentor to me. i’m not sure he even realizes it, but as years have gone by, he has always had encouraging words and direction for me in the midst of chaos. it all began my junior year of high school…

i grew up going to church, but never had a relationship with Jesus. it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that my math teacher called me on it. he asked me how my relationship to the Lord was, and what i needed to make it better. growing up in church, i knew the right answers, although i never did any of them. he called me on it, and we soon began a sunday afternoon bible study at dairy queen. our bible study never grew (there were usually 3 of us), and it only lasted for a few months. i don’t even remember what it was we were studying. but, this was just what i needed to begin walking with the Lord. i haven’t been perfect since then, or even close to, but i have been walking with the Lord since we started that small bible study. over the course of the years we still stay in contact and meet from time to time. so why do i write this today? hopefully to encourage you. yes, you.

who are you reaching out to? who are you pouring into? do you realize the impact you may be having on that individual. i’m sure that doug doesn’t think much about what he has done over the years. after all, he is just a math teacher (tongue in cheek). but he lives out his faith everywhere he goes, and he takes opportunity to share with and encourage others. so don’t despise the days of small things. who knows how great an impact those small things will have.