Sitting across from a high school student at one of his favorite Mexican Restaurants, I’m keenly aware that he and I are both there because of a long line of people, places, events, prayers, and trust.  Our conversation waxes and wanes of life, relationships, and family. On the way home he shares with me a (country) song on his phone. It cries of the pain of longing for more time with children by divorced parents. Good song that I had never heard, but it provided a window into the soul of a young man who could readily identify with that kind of pain. Such a moment required trust, for which I’m honored to have received from a good friend.

I love mentoring students. One of the young men I mentor has lived through many wins and defeats over our time together. Watching him connect with God through the gut-wrenching moments of life would inspire the most timid of men.

Such relationships come at a price. A return seen on the investment of time, emotion, resources, and ultimately giving of oneself to see another become a more devoted follower of Jesus doesn’t come overnight, within a week, month or even a year’s time. Getting another to conform to our mold of living is hardly the goal.

Producing disciples never meant having cookie-cutter processes of spiritual growth. So the expectation of having results within a specified time frame betrays the very ideas Jesus lived out with his closest of friends. Please understand, Jesus liked results. He called many new disciples blessed for growing in knowledge that former prophets and kings only longed for in their day. Jesus however spent much time getting to know his disciples and forming a lasting relationship with them.

Mark 3:14 states that Jesus picked 12 guys so that they could be with him  and that they could be sent out to preach (My loose paraphrase, emphasis mine). The relationships that Jesus nurtured teemed with purpose, hope and vision. Jesus saw something amazing in the people he chose to be around. This reminds me of the great task we are called to with students that God has placed in our path either through our intentionality in building a bridge to them, or a divine encounter with a teen seeking more from the questions that often go unanswered.  Who has God placed in your path?