Mentoring or Teaching?

When I was a kid we had about a two acre yard. Dad had purchased an International Cub cadet riding mower and it took him about three hours to mow the entire yard. While he mowed I watched. As I watched I longed for the day when he would turn the mowing duties over to me. As I grew Dad would put me on his lap while he mowed. We didn't talk...couldn't really hear anything anyway. I watched and rode. I learned things...to start the mower...Pull the choke, take gas off of "turtle" icon and and onto the "rabbit" icon. Depress the clutch/brake. Put it in 1st and let off the clutch slowly. To engage the mower move the lever on the right forward. As you mow keep the line of un-mowed grass on the inner side of the left front tire. Blow the grass into the center of the yard so it can be mulched. Dad didn't teach me this stuff...I just wanted to learn so I watched.

Soon Dad allowed me to steer while I sat on his lap. Then one day Dad mowed the outside strip of grass around the yard. When he completed a full loop he hopped off the mower and put me on it...no "warning", no "getting ready". He put me on it and let me go. I mowed the yard that day...and every week after. I was mentored for this job and never even knew it. It was actually pretty slick. Once I understood what Dad had done it was too late to quit mowing the yard. It was my job.

When I got a riding mower I tried to do the same thing to our kids. They rode on my lap, they steered some, but quickly tired of it and wanted off...other things to do I guess. So, I let them. I like mowing the yard, so it was fine with me. Tonight however, Maddi wanted to mow the yard. She tried riding on my lap...too big. I tried to teach her on the fly but it didn't work. She was frustrated, I was frustrated. No one had much fun. Needless to say the baton was not passed.

I was reminded of the difference between mentoring and teaching tonight. Mentoring is intentional investment in someone else for the purpose of training. Teaching is telling people what they need to know or do and hoping that they will apply the knowledge. Mentoring moves forward with little steps in a direction and allows for shortfalls. Teaching often asks for uncomfortable leaps and regularly punishes mistakes.

It is easy to teach. It is tedious to mentor.

Which would you rather do?

I know as a father I often settle on teaching when I need to be mentoring. The same goes for ministry.

I think as a spiritual discipline that we need to order our lives to allow more time for mentoring.