Reading Mark Twain, "Life on the Missippi" or how a mentor makes all the difference no matter how difficult the life

Life on the Missippi gives Mark Twain's account of how he became a steamboat pilot, and a fully formed adult: lesson by hard lesson. Reading his story I see the good life earned by an effort engaging every possible latent gift and talent, creating new gifts and talents as necessary, using one's whole person to attain a personal dream, delighting in the difficult drama of growing responsibility and deepening awareness of capability.

Twain's success seems due in large measure to his mentor, the licensed Steamboat Pilot who took Twain on as a "cub". I attribute my success to my mentors, licensed preachers, old hands who knew everything from how to dress (I didn't), to how to act among those of higher station (I didn't), and who revealed to me the "yes, but how" of ministry, in all its complexity. A mentor is the greatest gift a chosen dream can contain. Pay attention to this gift. Open it, use it, play with it; never letting a day go by that the mentor doesn't surprise you, challenge you, teach you, and say to you, in some way, perhaps spoken, but not necessarily, "You're important. I care about you." Remember your mentors. When you give thanks, give thanks for them.

My mentors kept the game interesting. I could have gone out on my on and tried to do it my way. I doubt I'd have lasted five years. I'd have quit from boredom. Having mentors meant learning new ways, pushing aside old ideas, finding viens of gold in the oddest places and mining them with the strangest tools and using the raw, rare discovery to shape something worth the creative investment.

I need a new mentor. I don't need a guitar buddy or golf buddy or a sailing buddy. I need a mentor who knows this river named retirement. I need help keeping the game interesting, or else I doubt I'll last five years. "Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened".