“How’s your soul?” – “Go and give them Jesus!”
It hangs on the back of my office door; a burgundy, heavy, long-sleeved, shirt. This corduroy shirt was once worn by “Dr. Bob”; my mentor, fourteen of my thirty-two colored, heavy, long, years of pastoral ministry. Bob’s pastoral ministry years, far exceeding my own, enabled him to pass on wisdom gleaned, before he himself passed on. [May 1, 1927 – February 5, 2011]
Also passed to me was Bob’s mantle. His burgundy, cardigan shirt, offered to me shortly after he passed, best symbolizes the mantle of mentoring. It remains a greatly treasured possession. It also serves to remind me of his often used question, “How’s your soul?” This, in turn, became impetus for establishing the ministry of M.A.S.T. Mentorship.
Occasionally I wear this shirt for extra warmth when there’s a chill in my office, but when I do (or see it hanging there on the back of my office door), I am reminded of the mantle of mentoring given me to take up. This mantle I did take it up years ago, and now humbly wear daily.
My continued desire then is to measurably pass on to others the mantle of mentoring much as Dr. Bob measuredly passed it on to me. This mantle, sometimes heavy and other times warm, is an honor to have taken on.
The need for this “ministry to ministers” grows long, while time left to wear it grows short. Of this I am increasingly aware as I am learning to measure my own days. Who next will take it up?
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
~Psalm 90:12 NIV
—RWO/MAST
Comments by Ric Ochsner