Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight.
ANONYMOUS
Chris has always loved basset hounds. She usually has two at any given time. Amos is her most recent canine family member. We all had fun getting to know him as a puppy. He made everyone laugh because he was so clumsy. When he walked around the house, he would knock things over. When he jumped on someone’s lap (which wasn’t acceptable behavior), he’d nearly topple the human. But he was so lovable and charming, everyone forgave him.
Amos is also a beautiful basset. Linda, his breeder, wanted to exhibit him at dog shows. When Chris told us, we couldn’t help but laugh. Amos in the ring?
Linda didn’t really think Amos would have much chance of winning, because his conformation took a little longer to mature. But she wanted to try. Linda would show him, but Chris would be involved in his training and be there to love, support, and care for him.
Chris took Amos to American Kennel Club handling classes so he would know what was expected of him. He had to ride in a crate and stay in the crate for long periods of time. He had to learn not to be distracted by all the other people and dogs. He had to let strangers open his mouth and check his teeth. He had to let them run their hands over all parts of his body. He had to stay stacked, which means standing motionless while maintaining the proper basset hound pose. He had to be happy in the ring. These are all things we thought would be impossible for Amos because of his rambunctious behavior.
Basset hounds are shown on a low table. They walk up a ramp to get there. The first time Amos came to one, he walked around the back of the table and jumped on top. Another time, he was walking up the ramp and fell off. This didn’t bother Amos. He just got back on and kept performing.
Amos also had to learn to be groomed. Bassets shed all year long, so they need a lot of brushing to get rid of this dead coat. Bassets’ coats also tend to get stinky and oily, so they require frequent bathing. It’s such a joy to get a 60-pound dog into the bathtub! Bassets also have toenails like bear claws. They need to be clipped short for the feet to look good. Since he was a little puppy, Amos has had his nails ground down with an instrument called a Dremel grinder. He has had to learn to tolerate this too—and he has!
Amos seems to know when he is going to a show. It’s as if he has a sixth sense about this. He has learned how to behave in a hotel. He has learned to ride in an elevator without slinging slobber all over his human fellow passengers. He loves all the attention he gets. But Chris says it hasn’t changed him—he’s still the same goofball he always was. Show dogs like to do the same things other dogs do!
Last March, Amos was in his first show. After several more shows, he became a champion in July. His official title is Champion SoLow Craigwood’s Amos.
No one who knew Amos dreamed that he could be trained to compete, but Amos seems to love the ring. It was even more incredible to see him become a champion in such a short amount of time. But his breeder worked with him to bring him to his best, and his dog mom loved him, took care of him, and cheered him on. With all this mentoring and encouragement, I think maybe it never occurred to Amos that he wasn’t a champion—so he became one!
Mentoring mattered for Amos the dog. It’s crucial for people too. A teenage friend of mine has an incredible talent for making films. Ellen, along with her team, entered the Christian Youth Film Festival of Kern County in 2010. They took first place in almost every category.
Everyone on the team worked hard to do their very best, but the project became a huge part of Ellen. She wrote the film with others, but kept polishing it on her own until it was ready to shoot. She asked adults for advice on all aspects of making the film. She got lots of support from her parents, family, friends, and her filmmaking team—but she also always gave God the glory.
When it was time to submit the film, I remember how nervous she was, hoping it would make it to the finals and be shown at the Majestic Fox Theater. That evening, she and her team would barely get back in their seats from receiving an award when their names were called again. Every time, Ellen thanked the Lord. That night, with the support and mentoring of so many who loved her, Ellen was a champion—just like Amos!
Amos and Ellen had great potential, but they needed mentoring to grow and flourish. The same was true of a biblical character named Samuel. His mother had dedicated him to God before his birth. When he was still a very young boy, she brought him to serve in God’s temple under Eli, the current high priest. But Samuel did not yet know God personally.
One night Samuel was sleeping and he heard someone calling him (1 Samuel 3). He assumed it was Eli and went to him. But Eli said he hadn’t called for the boy. When Samuel lay down, he heard the voice again. Once again, Eli denied he had called. But when it happened a third time, Eli realized God was calling Samuel. He told Samuel how to respond. God then gave Samuel his first prophecy—a judgment against Eli and his family. When Samuel was afraid to tell Eli, the old priest urged Samuel to reveal it and not hide anything. Though the Bible tells us Eli had his failings, he mentored Samuel well in this instance. God continued to be with Samuel and he grew up to be one of Israel’s great prophets.
I believe God gave each of us special gifts and abilities. But to develop them, we need mentoring from Him and others. If we are willing to be mentored, and to mentor in return, we can all be champions for Him!
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20).
Have you had special people in your life to mentor you and help you grow? How did they encourage and guide you? What impact did it have? Who might you encourage and mentor to become a champion?