Find Obi Wan Kenobi & then Yoda!
Become wise by walking with the wise… Solomon [1]
A good rule in leading is to find someone who has walked where you are walking that can teach what you don’t know already. Business, life, family, these require mentors and models we can follow. I don’t know how well you know the Star Wars movies, but this one principle is all over the series. No one becomes a successful Jedi without being mentored by a Jedi master. It is assumed that you need to learn to use the force. You have to grasp how to let it work through you. You need a master!
Solomon’s statement is about desire. Do you desire to become wise? Are you longing for a greater ability to understand the business world, life, and family? Solomon’s statement is also a promise. It is guaranteed that you will become wise if you walk with the wise. Please note, it does not say if you talk with the wise. Having coffee, or eating lunch may help you but it will not train you or change you. It says if you walk with the wise you become wise. Your journey must change direction to go with another. You have to give up going the way you wish to walk with someone who is wise. You need a master or two!
Obi Wan Kenobi - Luke’s first master was a man hiding in a cave. Luke seems to be destined to find Obi Wan Kenobi. Obi Wan Kenobi immediately recognizes the force in Luke. At that moment begins the journey of Luke Walker, a young man being mentored by a Jedi Master in the art of using the force for good, and not for the dark side. His first master appeared when Luke was ready but not before.
“When the student is ready the Master will appear” unknown
I want to challenge you to look around for a mentor for your life. You will be surprised at both who and when they appear. The wise are always looking for others who want to join them in their journey. The wise don’t always look like you think they will look. Don’t let appearance play any role in your quest for a mentor you look to learn from. Obi Wan Kenobi was old looking, appeared weak, and past his prime. Do you remember the scene where Luke goes to the Degaba System and finds a little green colored creature? Luke doesn’t know who this little creature is and asks if the creature can help him find Yoda a Jedi master. Of all the Jedi in Star Wars no one is a greater warrior than Yoda, yet his appearance was nothing like we imagine a great warrior to be. Look around and see if you can spot your Yoda?
“Successful people turn everyone who can help them into sometime mentors!”[2]John Crosby
Three wise people you should have in your life.
1. Jesus
No other life has so impacted the lives of so many. He is deemed a simple carpenter, rabbi, and leader of the Christian movement. His life and how he touched and impacted people is a model for all of us to follow. To some, he is a prophet, their Savior, and to others he is viewed as being insane. Regardless of how you view his life, he is an available mentor as to loving and serving others. His life is full of examples we can follow. His greatest impact was on how he changed the culture of the world he lived in. 400 years after his death the world became Christian.
2. Coach
There is no greater a resource than a man or woman who knows how to do what you desire to do. Early on in my life I coached college basketball for about 3 years, and then at other lower levels for several years as well. I had the joy of meeting Rick Patino, Billy Donovan, Pistol Pat, John Crotty, Goose Givens, and few other guys who were pretty knowledgeable about basketball. One of the guys we ran a basketball camp with was Octavio Delagrana. “Coach D” is presently the advance scout and player development coach for the Miami Heat. I love coaching basketball, but I hated the travel. I learned more in the hours I spent playing and coaching with these guys than I can tell you. I wanted to coach and being around those guys prepared me to coach the kids that I was entrusted. None of these guys other than Goose Givens looks like an NBA player. Your second mentor if you are in business should be a CEO, or a group of CEO’s that will make themselves available to you. If you can’t afford to be in a group pay for lunch to be with a mentor who is willing. I spent a whole year with a pastor from a larger ministry and then three years with a coach and mentor who knew how to church plant. Now I am going to be coaching guys to do those things. I recently took on the job of coaching little league baseball and I am looking for guys that know more than me to help me learn and to help the boys learn.
3. Student
A chord of three strands is not easily broken. If you take three ropes and weave them together you get a powerful chord that will not easily break. Today using microfibers they have developed these tow ropes made of plastic than can pull up to 2 to 3 tons. They are made of plastic. Jesus, wise guy, and someone who you can teach what you are learning make three. I have discovered the power of teaching someone to do what I’m doing makes me better at applying what I am learning from my mentors. Having others with you seeking wisdom, seeking to apply the example of Jesus, and having a mentor or coach make you strong.
“Teach yourself and you have a fool for a master” unknown[3]
Discussion:
Who are you learning from right now? What are you reading? Who are you teaching and leading? How are you passing on your wisdom to others? How available are you for others to walk with you? What role does Jesus have in your life?
[1] NLT, Proverbs 13:20
[2] http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/mentor/ January 28, 2009; 12:20 PM
[3] http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/master/ January 28, 2009; 12:45 PM
