Alongside

“Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.”

• Confuscious

Mentorship. For whatever reason, I’ve been reflecting on the topic for the past couple of weeks.

Dad was the best. He would involve me in jobs on the farm, show me, and tell me why. When Dad taught, I understood, remembered, and wouldn’t forget—maybe ever. I still own every tool my dad gave me. Each one is still in exactly the right place in the garage or on the workbench.

Herb, my basketball coach and lifelong friend until he passed, involved me, showed me (Herb was the best shooter of my life, until The Tallest of The Three came along) and told me why he was taking me out of a game, putting me back in, what we needed to accomplish. Even at this age with this body, I like my odds on a 17-foot baseline jumper or a free-throw for my life.

Pete (high school baseball coach) wasn’t as good at involving us, but he showed us, over and over again, up to the mowing level of the grass on our infield. There was a “why” behind everything Pete did. Late-life struggles and some dark clouds don’t diminish the impact he had on us.

Dian, Mary, Larry, Irv, Ruth, Ed, Mike, Midge, Tom, Don – people I worked for or took classes from who involved me, showed me, and told me. I’ll never forget them.

Jim, Drew, Ed, The Lion Chasers, Jon, Jon, Jon, Marc – mentors in Faith, pastors, teachers, Brothers.

If we’re mentors, are we providing the involvement, showing, and telling we need in the correct ratios to make a difference for those for whom we’re responsible? As mentees, are we seeking mentors who will involve us first, show us second, and be ready to tell us when we don’t get it all tied together?

Mentors make a difference. Mentoring makes a difference. Make-A-List Monday suggests we ought to write ’em down, write ’em a note, get some oxygen and determine how our mentor / mentee ratios affect the kind of Difference we’re making.