Who needs a coach or a mentor?

It moves me deeply that although the words „coach" and „mentor" did not exist back then, what we do — and not only within the Christian movement — is not new at all.

Both John the Baptist and Jesus were mentor and coach in one.

Scripture, and the Old Testament especially, is strewn with wisdom that invites us to come and ask. In earlier times a mentor and coach was simply called a teacher. A Rabbi.

Even the ancient thinkers had crowds of people who gladly came to them looking for wisdom about how to live. Seeking wisdom in that form was a widely respected practice.

I do not understand a certain kind of churchly arrogance which suggests that we have no need of such people today, and that all of this is an invention of our times.

It is true that the word „coach" is not a biblical term, and to many it may sound like some strange modern contraption. Surely the Word of God should be enough for us.

Well — it should have been enough for John the Baptist's disciples too, and yet they followed him, looking for wisdom, looking for the Messiah. As the finest coach and mentor, he pointed them to Jesus and taught them both how to live and how to find Him.

I am not claiming that every mentor or coach is a John the Baptist. But he is worth looking for.

Someone in whose company you will bear good fruit — the fruit of your own existence, of your own spirit — and find the living Jesus close to you, in the very places where you have not been able to recognise Him on your own.

And if something stirs in your heart when I share these thoughts with you, if something stirs in you towards growing your life in keeping with the Gospel — I invite you to a mentoring session.

Warmly,
Iza