Waiting for a Mentor

Regular readers of this blog may have followed Reverend Jacki’s sacred journey toward becoming a certified coach. This reflects a commitment on her part to enter into professional relationships with clients who will benefit from her as she anchors their growth.

The kind of support coaches, ministers, teachers, and others offer is valuable. We make a conscious choice to hire, work with, and grow with these professionals. Each time we show up for ourselves by fulfilling our commitments to participate in coaching, worship, class, or other enrichment activities, we send a powerful “yes” to the universe. The universe answers back with all kinds of shiny sparkly stuff that we get to share with our mentor and others. As we share, we become available to move into mentorship roles.

This is a good space to thank Jacki for taking this step and to bless her excellent effort. The powerful influence she is is no surprise to the universe, but the form her new endeavor will take has my attention. I’m pretty sure there’s going to be some shiny sparkly stuff, and I am here ready to catch some.

Just as Jacki has concluded her training so she can be available to serve in this new way, I have had new opportunities to move into a career of teaching. This is a welcome change, as I far prefer helping people avoid or solve financial challenges to doing legal work. Although acting as a lawyer gives me an opportunity to help, my true talent is in teaching. Like everyone else, I get tied up in knots I construct of my own fears. I tell myself I cannot support myself as a teacher and that my message of abundance and joy will have an unexpected ending wherein I die broke and living in a paper box. I do my work and recognize that this is untrue, but sometimes god decides to undo some of the knots and give me a little head start in my return to knowing abundance.

The other day, god stepped into a line waiting in the clerk of court’s office. Being clever, though, god did not say, “Hi! I’m god. Cut it out with the broke-paper-box routine. There’s a swine flu thing coming up, and a bunch of people need reassurance and stuff.” Instead, god looked confused and asked if she was in the right line.

“What’ve you got?” I said, by rote. I was hot, tired, and capable of directing a lost non-lawyer to the right line without making any human connection at all.

God snatched her paperwork to her chest. She was not very forthcoming about the nature of her legal matter, demanding I give an easy answer without her doing any work. (The “good for the goose is good for the god” aspect of this is obvious--now!)

Finally, we ascertained god was right where she needed to be.

“It has been a while. I haven’t practiced law for six years.”

“You were a lawyer?” (Who knew?!)

“Yes. I got tired of it. I decided to make a go of it on my investments. I did fine. I don’t miss the money. I thought I would, but I don’t.”

Right then and there, I poured my heart out: I’d rather teach. I fear the loss of income. I might die, you know, broke and living in a box.

God didn’t preach. Instead, she just smiled and told me how much she enjoyed waking up and knowing her day was hers. She told me about her flower garden. Then, when the clerk called my number, she whispered, “Smile.”

I ran from counter to counter, filed my paperwork, and left the clerk’s office.

You-know-who was in the elevator. She touched my arm as we parted ways in the lobby.

“Enjoy your garden,” I said.

“And you enjoy . . . whatever it is you enjoy.”

Our journeys are sacred. Sometimes they take us to a planned activity, but sometimes enlightenment is spontaneous.

Show up to your coaching appointment, celebration service, or class. Enroll in the abundance classes Reverend Jacki and I are teaching. Enjoy food, fellowship, and formal growth. These activities are opportunities to slow down, connect, and listen to the voice of god in us and in and though ministers, coaches, and teachers. These moments prepare us for the other moments, for the opportunity to recognize god as, in, and through the person next to us as we go through what seems like an unpleasant daily task.