Prodigal Ponderings — mentoring RSS

In a previous post I talked about how we have to be willing to initiate transparency.  Sharing our deeper hurts or struggles can be risky, but it’s the bedrock for a meaningful relationship.  While doing work in the prison I didn’t ask anyone what they did wrong to get incarcerated, instead I shared my own past failures that would have or should have landed me a seat next to theirs.   Transparency makes us vulnerable and sometimes others don't reciprocate. I’ve had times when others used what I shared with them against me, but as I stated before, who was the loser? If I am willing to take the risk first, then I open the door to an honest exchange...

I recently posted on the topic of “How Do You Feel” , so here we’ll resume the very challenging theme of communication in our modern times.   I’ve  told friends repeatedly that I would rather they challenge me, and risk hurting my feelings if they see a questionable attitude or behavior; rather than remaining quiet while my life starts to stray off course. As a dear friend once put it to me, deviating off course by a degree or two isn’t a big deal unless you’re a pilot flying from NY to LA; in other words the longer you stay off course the worse things are going to be, and the more likely you’ll end up in  unknown and undesirable...