Fagan: Post 4

For my last mentor meeting with my dad, we discussed finishing strong. We had the chance to talk this evening and it was encouraging to me. As classes wrap up and papers are due it is easy to coast to the finish, but we talked about how important it is that you finish well. It is too easy to just give partial effort just to get something done, but it is neither pleasing to God nor does it feel good as an individual.

While talking, my dad shared an anecdote with me about a recent conversation he had with a classmate. On a side note, my dad is studying to get his Masters in Theology from Wheaton. So, he and his classmate had both turned in their final papers for a class. My dad was telling his classmate how he had cut it to the wire to finish the paper, but he was satisfied with the end result and even felt good about his work. He then asked his classmate about his paper, to which the classmate replied, Yea. It was not my best work, but oh well. It is my last paper for my Masters and I am graduating next week. This struck my dad, as he has always lived by and taught me that the only option is doing your best work.

As we discussed this, my high school team verse came to mind, Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, as to the Lord and not to men. My coach hammered this verse into us and taught us that giving our best was always expected of us. It was never an option not to give our full effort to our work in football. My dad and I agreed. We should put this same kind of effort into everything we do, even school when it is just about over and it would be much easier to do an average job and scrape by. God wants us to approach all work the same way, doing it as if unto him.

After the talk, I was encouraged to continue on strong through my last few classes. I am glad to have had this time to start a mentorship with my dad and I look forward to continuing it even though it will no longer be mandated. This has been a time of good challenges and growth through this set up.