A Simple Walk

     I took a walk this afternoon with one of the campus ministers at the university I attend which changed my life forever...

          Joe texted me yesterday around 5pm asking if I wanted to grab coffee sometime and talk so he could get to know me. I met Joe at the Freshman retreat that the Christian Campus House (CCH) hosted two weeks ago and instantly took a liking to him. He reminded me a lot of one of my mentors from back home: wise, caring, relational, humble, cool yet somewhat counter-cultural, and loving. Joe and I had our first conversation when He drove me back to the dorms from the Freshman Retreat along with three other students. We did the normal small talk, "Where are you from? What are your interests? Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter?" but never got into any on a deep level. So when Joe asked if I would be up for meeting together in hopes to get to know one another, I was more than up for it!
          I arrived at CCH around 1:45 and found him in his office on the main floor. We talked for a couple minutes while he finished up organizing some things from his desk (he had apparently just finished a meeting of sorts) before moving into the lounge. Joe asked if I had eaten and I said yes so he suggested going for a walk instead of getting coffee. I was thrilled and could not have been more pleased with where this meeting was already going. I've read about men/boys taking walks with their mentors, soaking in every ounce of wisdom they can muster, asking every question that comes to mind, and pouring out whatever was on their heart, but I never thought that would ever happen to me...
          Joe led me down the sidewalks, seemingly leading me to some sort of destination. He asked me questions about my life, what I desired in life, what my plans were for the future, but the most amazing thing was that he just let me talk. This experience was truly about him getting to know me: my heart, my desires, my passions, my life, my faith. He spoke very little compared to my ramblings, but when he spoke it was meaningful. We soon arrived to the destination he mentioned earlier, a chat path enclosed by a wooded paradise. For the next hour we walked and talked, me describing the details of my life, he relaying soft wisdom and prodding my heart. There were silences, awkward for me at first until I realized that they weren't awkward for Joe. In that truth, Joe taught me that silence isn't a bad thing. I told Joe things that I haven't even told my best friends. In those sixty minutes we were together he gained my complete trust because I knew where he put his hope and who he lived for. I needed that walk and talk, and Joe had listened to God's call to him that told him that I needed that walk and talk.
          We returned to the campus house where we refreshed with some cold water. Joe got my cup and filled it for me. In this, Joe taught me how effective a servant's attitude can be. That one action even further solidified my trust to him. We sat on a couch and discussed more topics, revisiting some from our walk in greater detail. Joe challenged me; without being off-putting he challenged me. This was not some "Let me hear all your problems and make you feel better about yourself so you'll come to CCH more", it was a genuine investment into the life of someone he saw needed a mentor. God changed my life through Joe today, and for that I am eternally grateful.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
                    - Proverbs 27:17