Intentional...
Mentoring at it’s best, whether for one hour or a life time...
...always is intentional.
Lasting, life-changing mentoring takes many forms, shapes, and lengths of time. But...whether it’s minutes to months...being intentional is the first key to unlocking the meaningful life-building relationship called...
...mentoring.
Pardon the dry bones of definition, to which we will add flesh and feeling in a moment.
Intent
Intention
Intentional
For those serious about mentoring...or...being mentored, let’s cleanly define these directional terms:
Intent--as a noun, it is a purpose and as an adjective, it defines an action
Intention --as a noun, an aim or purpose
Intentional --as an adjective, done on purpose
Even as I’m creating this post, one of the good men I’ll be meeting with in my first mentoring moment for tomorrow (Tuesday...the 27th) has called and asked if we can squeeze in more time.
We usually meet about every 2-3 weeks at 6:30am here at the Parker Paneras...and something is cookin’ enough in his vibrant soul to ask for more time.
Of course...!!!
So it is my intention to meet with him @ 6am, after a hoped for slow hour workout at Fitness19 (...still recovering from the double concussions I encountered nine days ago down in Texas...being very intent to recover carefully and thoroughly...).
Yup! This exceptional young leader said he can take me sweaty...if that’s the extra pay off for added time together. I look forward to time with him...for it sounds like his life (...in all 8 dimensions...) is about to take some intentional new directions.
You get the drift...I trust.
Even the smallest seeds of mentoring need to have an intentionality to them. One never knows when one of those seeds will land, take hold, sprout, and new life begins to grow...
...again...!
* * * * * * *
Next Monday? We’re going deep.
As in deep-change.
© Three3rdsMedia 2011...in association with LeadershipDesignGroup
Wonderful post as always...love that word Intentional...
Posted by: Pablo | September 26, 2011 at 01:01 PM
1. make, build and keep friends.
2. romance my wife.
3. enjoy the small things
4. choose joy
5. look for mystery, wonder and the unseen beauty
6. Drink good beer in small amounts regularly.
Posted by: Mark | September 26, 2011 at 03:00 PM
God is giving me hope through Isaiah 43:18,19--"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Your encouragement to be intentional is exactly what I need. How can we perceive God's work if we are not paying attention? Thank you!
Posted by: Lee | September 27, 2011 at 07:48 AM