The Goodness Project video features a story on how a common interest in sporting competition creates opportunity for young people to learn effective skills for navigating life. That’s all good, but, what I found most inspiring was the notion of mentoring. In this ‘goodness’ story, here was a clear relationship identified where a wiser and experienced individual took an active interest in passing on what he had learned to younger people needing direction.
Robert Bly’s book ‘The Sibling Society’ laments the loss of mentoring. The great flattening of our world, where the ‘freedom’ to be ourselves eschews structures and ancient ways, in order to be authentic. He argues that no one is being called into a life of growing up, becoming an adult. What we fail to see is that we are always being formed by forces and pressures that overtly, and perhaps more often subtly, have an agenda for us.
The question to be asked is, what will we allow, or choose, to form us? This requires a great deal of careful thought and attention. At Two Rivers Church, we believe that the life of following Jesus benefits greatly from thinking of ourselves as his apprentices, being trained and formed in his ways. That means finding wiser and more experienced mentors to help us in that task.
Are you looking to be formed in a meaningful way? Consider joining us on the journey of being mentored in the life of Jesus for the sake of a healed and beautiful world.
Glen Soderholm
Watch The Goodness Project video — Shaker and Ayden Adeyanju-Jackson
Shaker talks about starting his basketball training program, creating more courts, and the inspiration he draws from the kids he's worked with that have overcome adversity. Ayden, a basketball player and student at Queen's University, speaks about the role basketball and Shaker have played in his life.