My Mentor is a Maniac ... and Yours Should Be Too By Cortney Donelson

Photo Cred: www.seepeopleproject.com

“Sometimes all it takes is twenty seconds of insane courage.”

“Everybody needs somebody who believes in them more than they themselves do.”

Mark Batterson, in his book “If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God’s What If Possibilities,” included both of these statements on his quest to convince his readers that all that stands between them and their God-given and adventure-filled purpose is “one little if.” I can’t get these two statements out of my head. When paired together, they summarize the wisdom I have discovered through my growing relationship with my mentor. 

I started praying for a spiritual and professional mentor many years ago. When I worked as a physical therapist, I would not only examine my older population of patients to determine their ailments, but I would assess them to see if just maybe God had just introduced me to the mentor I had been waiting so long to meet. No one ever seemed to fit the mold, the one I had so strategically created in my head. I imagined a confident, profound, hilarious, and witty older woman, with a head topped with perfectly groomed gray hair, and eyes full of wisdom. I guess you could say I was waiting for Betty White. 

As it turns out, I was halfway to correct. The mentor God deployed (with just the right timing by they way) is witty. She is clever, intelligent, and intentional. Her confidence is contagious, but not as catchy as her sidesplitting sarcasm. Her deeply rooted faith is seemingly unstoppable. But, God didn’t bring me a Betty White. He introduced me to someone better. She’s only a couple of years older than me, but she is one of those somebodies who believes in me more than I myself do. And, that matters more. 

She doesn’t have gray hair or a wrinkled face. She has a bold faith that stretches my own. My mentor challenges me in a way that makes me think ideas might well have been mine – even though they certainly weren’t. God has spoken through her in ways she likely does not even know. My mentor networks for me, speaks highly of me in others’ presence, and encourages me when my confidence seems to deflate. She begs me (in her own special way) to believe in myself and inspires me to use that twenty seconds of insane courage to step outside my comfort zone to simply touch the plan God has for me. For when I do reach out to God, He not only grabs hold of me, but He also lifts me up higher than I ever thought possible. 

My mentor is a psychotherapist by profession. I laugh and say there’s more pyscho than therapist. But, perhaps that’s what this play-by-the-rules-but-really-a-rebel-at-heart needed. God knew she would remind me that laughter is good, even when it’s about difficult things. A sense of humor is required to expose the joy God hid in the hard parts of life. It’s a joy worth fighting for. Because of her, I understand I don’t have to shelter my innate absurdity and pleasure in order to talk about my trials and speak well about the serious stories I have to share.   

There are so many more chunks of wisdom that she has imparted to me. Here are a few quick bulleted items, because that is what I do ... make lists. 

• Sometimes anger is not a strong enough word, and that’s okay.
• If the fear of being prideful stops me from doing something God ordained, I’m being prideful. 
• “Me” is important and is a daughter of the Almighty. Self is selfish and should be avoided (except for self-care, that one is critical).
• If you’re going to “undo” people with your story, you better zip them back up before they leave. (This sounds much more like Betty White now that I’m writing it.) 
• We are in the struggle; we are not the struggle.
• You may think that what you have to share is not worthy or even new. You may think someone else can easily teach the same messages. The truth is, everyone has something to teach or share. But, not everyone is doing it. You were the one called to share it.  

Yes, my mentor is a maniac. I thank God for her every day. 

I hope those whom I have mentored think of me as a little crazy too. Insane even. The Bible implores us to be courageous, to fear not. As long as we stay on the right side of foolishness, we can always trust that God will lift us up to new heights and new adventures – all for His glory. 

My goal is to convince those I may mentor in the future to jump into those twenty seconds of insanity. I’d love to assure them through my own choices and actions that 1) it’s worth it and 2) their relationship with God will never be the same. My hope is that they know without a hint of doubt that I believe in them more than they might believe in themselves.  

Who’s your maniac? 

Prayer: Father God, I don’t know why I doubted Your plan and Your timing all these years. Thank You for my mentor. Thank You for those who I have mentored. I pray we are all crazy in love with You and follow You to the ends of the earth. I am deeply grateful to have so many people who believe in me more than I do. Light Your way for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. 

Influenced by Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 9:9, Psalm 145:4, Psalm 71:18, 2 Timothy 2:2, Proverbs 13:20, and the remaining 40+ Bible verses related to mentoring others. 

For Fun (Because sometimes you have to fight for joy):

These quotes are either from my mentor (Kim Honeycutt) or Betty White. You decide!

1. I may be a senior, but so what? I'm still hot. 
2. Spit out your gum, or I’ll punch you in the throat.
3. My mother always used to say, “The older you get, the better you get. Unless you're a banana.”
4. Get at least eight hours of beauty sleep. Nine if you're ugly.
5. (Rather than move to Canada after this Presidential race) I’m moving to _______ (fill in city). That way I can get hooked on Xanax, use a bottle of Aqua Net on my big hair everyday, and get my dose of Lithium just by drinking the city water.
6. I like double entendre because then the people who get it enjoy it, and the people who don't get it don't know about it. 
7. I really don’t know why I am so crazy. Maybe it was the conversation I had with my mother this morning about when I ran away to Tennessee that evoked a deeper crazy in me.
8. My dear friends, my favorite color is pink. When I pass, I expect all cities to be decorated in pink. And it would mean a lot to me if all stores ran out of Kleenex because people couldn't stop crying. Oh and I would like you all to have bruised chests from repetitiously tapping your heart three times since that is my symbol. I hope that gives everyone clarity.

Answer Key:

By Kim: 2, 5, 7, 8

By Betty: 1, 3, 4, 6

©2012-2016 Cortney Donelson. All rights reserved.

Cortney's book, Clay Jar Cracked, is available on Lulu.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail sites, and includes print, e-pub, nook, and kindle versions until June 15, 2016. Look for an updated version under New York publisher Morgan James, to be publicly released March 7, 2017 (pre-orders for September 2016 delivery available in July)! Visit www.cortneydonelson.com for more information! To schedule speaking engagements, please email Cortney directly.