Mentored Into the Grace-Drenched Life

     One of my mentors graduated to Heaven yesterday. Although I never met Brennan Manning nor even listened to him speak, several of his books have impacted me greatly. Twice in this blog that I can find I quoted from one or more of his books. You can find those blogs here and here.

     But I am not feeling nudged to write today about Brennan Manning and his remarkable influence on Abba's children. Rather, his passing has triggered in me a desire to share just a few thoughts about mentors and a few pithy quotes from some of my favorites. 

     First, however, I remind you that you may or may not be able to relate to how I am mentored. Most of my mentors (living and departed) have mentored me from afar via what they have written. Not everyone, however, is wired to learn via reading, so although I cannot imagine anyone growing into maturity in Jesus apart from mentors in her/his life, I also recognize that each person must discover how s/he best learns. 

     Now about mentors. Everyone needs them, regardless of what we call them. The process many Christians call "discipleship" (an often loaded and very "Christianeze" term) involves being mentored by those a few steps ahead of us in the journey. Jesus mentored His disciples and Paul clearly followed His example (see, for example, his words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2). I cannot imagine life without the influence of my many mentors, nor can I imagine a life where I am not mentoring others. It seems to be at the heart of the life of the Kingdom. 

      But that's all I will write about this today, because I want to share a few treasures from just a few of those who mentor me. I was going to make a list of these mentors for you, but I choose instead to let you find your own list and share a few pearls about living the grace-drenched life that Jesus invites us to.

     First, another quote from Brennan Manning that I carry around with me. It is a simple prayer from Ruthless Trust, p. 152 that invites me to live surrendered to Papa's love: "Abba, I surrender my will and my life to you today, without reservation and with humble confidence, for you are my loving Father. Set me free from self-consciousness, from anxiety about tomorrow, and from the tyranny of the approval and disapproval of others, that I may find joy and delight simply and solely in pleasing you. May my inner freedom be a compelling sign of your presence, your peace, your power, and your love. Let your plan for my life and the lives of all your children gracefully unfold one day at a time. I love you with all my heart, and I place all my confidence in you, for you are my Abba."

     Then there's this little jewel from Lady Julian that attempts to help us grasp God's endless love for us and the infinite grace it extends to us: “…love is nearest to us all. And this is the knowledge of which we are most ignorant; for many men and women believe that God is almighty and has power to do everything, and that he is all wisdom and knows how to do everything, but that he is all love and is willing to do everything—there they stop. And this ignorance is what hinders those who most love God; for when they begin to hate sin, and to mend their ways… there still remains some fear which moves them to think of themselves and their previous sins. And they take this fear for humility, but it is foul ignorance and weakness. … for it comes from the Enemy, and it is contrary to Truth. … It is God’s wish that we should place most reliance on liking and love; for it makes God’s power and wisdom very gentle to us; just as through his generosity God forgives our sins when we repent, so he wants us to forget our sins and all our depression and all our doubtful fear.”

     And one of Brother Lawrence's many reminders about "living loved" and always aware of God's presence: "That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of God, his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love: and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with God, praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; yet hoped that God would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should grow stronger."

     I have used this one from Brother Lawrence at least twice before, but it so wonderfully illustrates the scandal of God's messy grace for us that I share it again: "I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his King; touched with a sensible regret I confess to Him all my wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself into His hands, that He may do what He pleases with me. This King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite. It is thus I consider myself from time to time in His holy presence."

     Finally, although I could give many more, here's one on how to handle failure in view of God's amazing grace by Andrew Murray (The Deeper Christian Life, chapter 6): “Don’t be discouraged. If failure comes, at once, without any waiting, appeal to Jesus. He is always ready to hear, and the very moment you find there is the temper, the hasty word, or some other wrong, at once the living Jesus is near, so gracious, and so mighty. Appeal to Him and there will be help at once. If you learn to do this, Jesus will lift you up and lead you on to a walk where His strength shall secure you from failure.”

     And yes, all of these quotes fall mostly on the side of God's embracing love and grace. It would seem wrong of me not to head that direction in light of my mentor Brennan Manning's watching today from Heaven. No one I can think of understood the scandal of God's grace better than he.

Tom, one of Abba's needing-endless-grace children