Mentor? Or, Do I Need To Do This?

[Byzantine]

There is a person who has complete authority over me, exactly the same as a parent. This person wants me to get a "mentor." Where he's from, it's apparently a common practice to get a random person 2-3 years older than you to guide your though your late teenage years. This person does not start out or end up as your friend as far as I can tell. The person telling me to get a "mentor" wants me to get my school directory, call up a random person, and ask them to be my mentor (let me make this clear: I live in PA. This would probably be very awkward and embarrassing). After telling this person that I had met a few guys at Alive in Christ Ascetical Boot Camp within the specified age range, he seems to have dropped it (not a Christian). His tone could also imply that it was a suggestion. You know, like when people use the imperative, but more to suggest their openness to you doing something than actually telling you to do it.

So. My question is: Do I need to do this potentially very embarrassing thing? Could I ask my mom if I had to, and take it as a nullification of the other command when she said "no?"

[Theoketos]

It sounds very odd. The random part sounds down right dangerous.

From the CCC

[quote][b]2690 [/b]The Holy Spirit gives to certain of the faithful the gifts of wisdom, faith and discernment for the sake of this common good which is prayer ([i]spiritual direction[/i]). Men and women so endowed are true servants of the living tradition of prayer.


[u][b]According to St. John of the Cross, the person wishing to advance toward perfection should "take care into whose hands he entrusts himself, for as the master is, so will the disciple be, and as the father is so will be the son." And further: "In addition to being learned and discreet a director should be experienced. . . . If the spiritual director has no experience of the spiritual life, he will be incapable of leading into it the souls whom God is calling to it, and he will not even understand them." [/b][/u]
[/quote]

A Christian is occasionally obliged to follow stupid, but we are never called to follow evil.

Edit to add that no one but God has complete authority over you but God. And He has made you lord of your own actions.

Edited December 24, 2011 by Theoketos