She was probably the first real mentor in my life.  My parents certainly influenced my life in many wonderful ways. Others left some very strong impressions, but I got serious about my walk with the Lord when this lady led a Bible study. It was at this time in my life that the Spirit of God sent her to discern who I really was and to walk all over my soul with her discerning words. Mentors have that kind of impact; that is, those whom God has sent, and to whom we’ve given the right to speak truth and bring correction as needed.

I spent a lot of wasted time trying to impress her with my spirituality. [how I laugh now!!] Oh, the times I spent memorizing how to talk like her, read aloud her favorite scriptures, and listen to the cassette tapes she loaned me. Surely that would win points for me. Right?

After listening to an entire six-tape series, I reasoned that she would certainly be impressed with my diligence. I bragged on myself when I returned the tapes saying, “I got it! I understand the biblical principles, now that I’ve finished the w.h.o.l.e set of tapes!” She said, “My dear…[it was then that I knew I was in for it!] don’t you know that it isn’t ‘yours’ until you flesh it out?”

Flattened again!

Decades later, I realize how much truth she was speaking. James writes it plain, so plain that I still wiggle and squirm under the conviction of this truth: “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear and don’t act like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, or what they look like.” [James 1:22 The Message]

Most uncomfortable I was when she spoke such words that sliced and diced my fleshly efforts to impress her. Today I’m eternally grateful. It’s been 43 years since she walked into my life and all over my soul. Stopped me right in my tracks! And made me face the truth.