Ruth's Ramblings

Mentoring relationships & taking baby steps with God

Sudden realization that I am in the "business" of mentorship, and the types of relationships it entails have been precisely the relationships I've been building all this time. Is it a gift or is it a command? Nevertheless, being a good steward of these relationships is what is at hand (and I had no idea!). I can't force them, nor can I just leave them be, but instead, waiting for God's signal. Every step of the way, God moves things along for me, and I'm just an empty vessel along for the ride/experience of whatever He's doing. Literally, my prayer, everytime, is this: Help me not to screw this one up...! And miraculously, each time, the situations come about in a way that allows me (with the Holy Spirit guiding me) to be there.

There's a constant need for re-evaluation and examination of myself and my surroundings and whatever the situation at hand - and with that, I take my steps carefully while constantly checking in with God. The difficult part about "following God's Will" is not only being in tuned with where I'm at, but also being in tuned with my surroundings and what God is possibly doing around me before doing anything. And after each step I take, each decision I make, I feel the need to look back and re-evaluate all over again. Because I know that whatever "business" God has placed me in, He's got His own agenda. And I'm just here to be His tool/instrument for this agenda. I know this is obvious stuff for alot of people, but I'm starting to sense what it's like to be part of this symphony of different parts coming together for the will of God in whatever situation/ministry. There has always been two sides to finding God's Will: those that simply do absolutely nothing and wait for God do everything and drop it all onto their laps from the sky, and those that work their hardest (according to what they think will get them to God) to obtain it themselves all by themselves. And I think I'm just starting to taste an intricate balance of the two... its a tricky place that asks for constant examination of the self/heart, and of surroundings where God may possibly be working.

And all this "examination" or "reflection" can be done through journalling, quiet times through out the day, or even personal retreats... this is my first step of reaching my goal of practicing the presence of God everyday. As Frank Laubach journalled in 1937, "God I want to give You every minute of this year. I shall try to keep You in mind every moment of my waking hours..."

Posted by Ruth at 9/16/2003