Starting this essay I wanted to say, “Many mentors but few followers…” but I didn’t like the sound of it because it sounded like I wanted disciples or followers. Really what I desire is just readers who might find something of interest to enjoy or appreciate. Followers or disciples might be nice if such were to find themselves yearning for more spiritual awareness that they think they see in lives of others. I am certainly made of clay like any reader of these words but “my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”. I am certainly no perfect guide to watch or follow but neither are those sharing this walk in life with me. People have a right to think, “I would rather see a sermon any day than to hear one…” or “the eye makes a better pupil than the ear” and the most curt, “I can’t hear you for what your actions are saying…”

So, I must concede to have appreciated many mentors in my life. For years I enjoyed seeing former grade school teachers occasionally and I would always express my appreciation to them for what I believed was the good training they gave me. Seems most of them were quite humble and rarely acted as though they believed me but I was serious. Of course such practice dwindled away with the passing of years and getting into my sixties many elementary school teachers were gone. Now in my seventies I find it getting even more difficult as the years click by to be able to talk to my high school teachers. One teacher is still around; she has to be in her late 80’s because she was my art teacher during my last three years in elementary school. She still remembers me, or perhaps is so convincingly kind and thus “recognizes” any of her former pupils.

No doubt my thoughts have changed gears to speak words of appreciation to mentors in the assorted jobs or careers I have had but somehow find myself to have been neglectful in expressing such words of thanks to those mentors. Perhaps they have observed their work in me and thus their “work in progress” (me) was its own statement of appreciation. I can only hope that is true to a degree. Again, such recognition of mentors is something we need to do persistently because one day we might be thinking about those people and realize they are gone!

I believe we all need to take inventory occasionally and be sure that those mentors along the way know our gratitude and appreciation. When is the last time you told some former boss or perhaps a work mate “Thanks” for something they did for you or saw virtue in you and in turn encouraged you along the way of this busy dizzy thing we call life? When I have such ruminations I receive a bit of comfort in the passage in Hebrews 12:1, “…the cloud of witnesses watching…” over us – like a cheering section from the distant past.

THE WORDWRIGHT