Discipleship

Discipleship is almost mentorship, but not quite.

At work we are officially a candidate school for the IB PYP, I find it both exciting - what I 'know' so far the pedagogical grounding seems to align with my own desires as a practitioner - and daunting - my implicit practices need to made explicit to critique and decide if they are aligned to the programme, or need to be 'unlearnt'. Thankfully the programme allows space for mentoring, something I seek in every area of my life. 

I view a mentor as someone that is 'more experienced' than I in an area that I wish to improve, whether spiritually, professionally or personally. They may not know I have placed them as a mentor, but I question them, ask for feedback, and try and listen and ponder their responses to apply to myself. I have colleagues, friends, people in church, family members, a spiritual director and a psychologist, that I specifically turn to for specific areas. However, all these people have been planned, and placed for me to learn from by God - His plans (the Father), His people (the Son) and His timing (the Spirit).

This poem is a reflection on the similarities I see on the 'secular' term 'mentorship' and the 'sacred' term 'discipleship'. As Richard Rohr says

people I trust to be able to critique my decision making and help me with struggles.

Discipleship is almost mentorship, but not quite.

Jesus. A man

walking hand in hand

with whoever accepts his call

to come, 

to see,

to listen.

His patience, like no other,

will drip feed thoughts,

ideas,

struggles,

plans,

and steer us on...

...not a path, nor road,

but a way unseen

unless we focus on where He's been.

A mentor. A guide. A person, yes, but other too.

A part of God, and yet a whole.

It is in His way that we meet

others who cross our streets,

who lead us on our way

but

if we place them in our sight,

we lose the light

of that True way,

the one that comes

by living,

watching, waiting, listening

for the call

to be.

14.07.24 - Milano Reppubblica - listen to a recording of me reading this on #SoundCloud

Things I have read this week that contributed to the above poem are this devotion by Richard Rohr, this article by Elkie Greite, and the relationship between Elisha and Elijah.