What Good Are You Doing?

A good night’s sleep and a better day have put things in a better perspective than when I last posted. So perhaps we will get a more positive answer to the question that is today’s prompt.

The question can be interpreted several ways, but I am going to focus on the good impacts and good work that I am doing. So….what good am I doing?

• Mentoring students. Much of my day is spent mentoring students and it is the part of my job that I most enjoy. Today, I spoke with one student about ways to improve his academic performance before talking another through frustrations with colleagues. As the afternoon began to come to a close, I spoke with another student struggling with musical interpretation before attending a concert with a trio of young adults that I try to regularly give some needed encouragement and attention.
• Friendship. I don’t always feel that I am a good friend. Today, I received confirmation from a third party that my kindness and friendship had been spoken of as something that was greatly appreciated. Even though I’m not looking for praise, it is nice to sometimes hear that I am impacting those I am with day in and day out.
• Making music. It has taken me a long time to be comfortable enough with my performance to say that I am a good musician. This week, I have had a couple of rehearsals with Madison Younger in preparation for her recital hearing. After we worked through some issues that needed a little attention, it was time to just run the entire program. It was so much fun to play the instrument and get to “play” musically with another musician who will respond to inflections, colors, and shapes. The constant change that occurs with each performance and rehearsal is what I find so enjoyable about collaborative work. I would not trade that experience for the world!

As iron sharpens iron….

Proverbs 27:17 states “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (NLT) Over the years, I have been blessed to be surrounded by godly men who have been my friends and mentors. They have encouraged me in times of trials and spoken truth into my life that I didn’t always want to hear at the moment. Still, I knew that their words of wisdom and correction were always intended for my good.

While having lunch with my pastor last week, I began to reflect on the men who have sharpened me over the years. These were never men who appeared in my life for a short time; they made a commitment to walk with me for the long haul. That meant that trust was built and that they would have the right to speak honestly without feeling the need to edit themselves. I’m just beginning to build this type of relationship with Pastor Jason and other men in the Plainview area, but the memories of the good that has come from mentorship leads me to open my heart to new possibilities.

While I had men who discipled me through my early years, it really wasn’t until I attended Pepperdine that I truly began to understand mentorship. Men like Scott Lambert, Hung Le, and Randy Gill taught me what it meant to be a godly man in all areas of my life and to seek ways to honor God through my music, life, and service. It was also here that I met peers who could speak openly and honestly into the dark areas of my life. Andy Power, Jon Jones, Mike Cohn, and Jason Wall made a greater difference in my life than they probably fully realize.

Graduate school brought me back to Memphis and the opportunity to serve in vocational ministry. Robbie Wier was not only my pastor and supervisor; he quickly became a trusted friend and advisor. Like any relationship, we had our ups and downs, but I’m happy to say that we weathered the storms together and continue to enjoy a growing friendship when we are together. I could go on and tell you about men like Robert Gordon and Chris Mathews that have poured into my life and ministry; I became a better man because of their influence and love.

I will always be a student. There will always be things that need to be corrected in my life. I hope to continue to be blessed with spiritual and professional mentors. I also pray that I will be aware when opportunities present themselves to pass the lessons I have learned along the journey to another generation of men who are striving to follow Christ in all that they do and say.