In 1967, a veteran at Fort Benning, Ga. taught the impact of mutual mentoring to a formation of young officers: “The venerable, steely-eyed veteran told us the next nine weeks would test our mettle as it had never been tested,” one of them recalls. “The sergeant said many wouldn’t make the grade - it was just too tough. (Turned out he was right, of 287 in the formation that day, only 110 finished the nine weeks).
“I can still hear that raspy voice cutting through the morning humidity like a serrated blade. ‘We are here to save your lives,’ he preached. ‘We’re going to see to it that you overcome all your natural fears - especially of height and water. We’re going to show you just how much incredible stress the human mind and body can endure. And when we’re finished with you, you will be the U.S. Army’s best. You will not only survive in combat, you will accomplish your mission!’
“Then, before he dismissed the formation, the hardened Ranger sergeant announced our first assignment. We’d steeled ourselves for something really tough. But the veteran’s first order caught us off guard.
He told us to find a buddy. 'This is step one,' he growled. 'You need to find yourself a Ranger buddy. You will stick together. You will never leave each other. You will encourage each other, and, as necessary, you will carry each other.'"
It was the Army’s way of saying, "Difficult assignments require a friend.... You need someone to help you accomplish the tough course ahead."
Mentoring is not entirely a vertical affair. It is sometimes horizontal. Trusted companions can be a great source of encouragement and counsel. We find examples of some form of mutual mentorship in the lives of David and Jonathan. David, under persecution from Saul, received timely counsel, encouragement and comfort from his friend, Jonathan. Paul, whose conversion to Christianity was viewed with suspicion by the leading lights of the church at the time, found in Barnabas an encourager who not only vouched for him in Jerusalem, but got him started on his first mission in Antioch.
It is important we cultivate peer to peer relationships that facilitate mutual growth in every area of life. We are often at varying levels of experience and knowledge in life. Trusted peers can complement our lack of knowledge and experience in certain areas, and can be effective sounding boards and accountability partners. We need peers that can run alongside us in the race of life. We need peer-to-peer mentoring. Take time today to strengthen such relationships in your life, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in building one, if you do not have any. God speed!
