Mentor

You accept what cannot be fully understood or explained.

Mentors are at a stage in life where they become more aware of the mystery in all of life. This awareness leads to a deep sense of being okay. They feel completely whole and at peace. This feeling of being complete enables them to accept and believe what cannot be fully understood or explained. This makes them experienced and trusted advisers.

You accept a wide range of different perspectives.

They are not trying to convince everyone to agree with them. They accept widely different perspectives and hold onto the tension between them. They feel less and less driven to defend their own perspectives.

You welcome opinions that are different from your own.

Mentors know that we all come closer to the truth when many strangers engage in dialogue. When talking to people, Mentors focus on the deeper truths behind those people’s words. They are less upset by mismatches. Mentors have the ability to hold on to widely different ideas at the same time.

You go beyond superficial differences.

Their openness to diverse worldviews makes it easier for Mentors to relate to people whose faith styles differ from their own, without being condescending. God’s presence is experienced on the deeper levels of themselves, others and creation. You practice to listen deeply, behind the words. They can hold the tension between perspectives that sometimes seem at odds with each other. Mentors have the skill to listen carefully and package their advice gently. Although they may possess all kinds of accumulated wisdom, they know the people with whom they engage are not vessels into which they can pour their insights. Mentors often learn and practise to listen closely, ask open questions, dig deeper and act as a sounding board for others. Mentors would enjoy interchurch, interdenominational and interfaith dialogues.