I met a total stranger today who really touched my heart. She lives in extreme poverty, in a third-world country, going through a major economic crisis. To get to work every day, she has to catch a bus, and her alarm clock goes off at 4:30 am. By the end of the workday, she is absolutely wiped out! She’s a wife, a dedicated Mom, and an active volunteer at her church every Sunday. 

Hearing her story made me want to take a nap. But more importantly, she made me stop and think, “How would I respond if I were living her life?” Yikes! I have a pretty easy life overall, yet I still find myself complaining about small inconveniences. I live in a nice house, drive a nice car, have a full pantry, and pay all my bills without a worry. And yet, sometimes I complain about the taste of my coffee or the fact that I need to make dinner again.

Our call started at 6 am my time and 8 pm hers. I showed up fully caffeinated and ready to roll, and as soon as she joined the call, I was greeted by one of the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen. She exuded pure JOY! 

Most of our conversation was introductory, getting to know one another. The depth of her questions was incredible, and they caused me to pause and go deep. She wanted to know what my spiritual disciplines were like. I openly shared those with her, and then she began to share with me. To have time with Jesus before leaving for work, she gets up at 4:30 am and spends time in prayer, Bible study, and worship. How? How does she keep up?

After two beautiful hours together, I ended the meeting in prayer, and we agreed to meet next Saturday, at the same time. I left the call and realized that something unusual had happened. 

The Mentee had mentored the Mentor