You Need a Yoda
Always two there are, no more, no less: a master and an apprentice. -Yoda
Each one of us needs an older or wiser person to look up to. We all need someone who can help us find our way through this new and unfamiliar landscape called life. Paul mentored Timothy, Silas, and several others; Peter led many within the Church in Jerusalem.
A Peter/Paul has been there and done that
A Peter/Paul is a spiritual director or teacher or mentor
A Peter/Paul is someone to look up to
A Peter/Paul has set a standard to live up to
A Peter/Paul is someone whose blessing we seek
Yoda, of course, is the Jedi master and instructor of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker in the epic myth known a Star Wars. Yoda knows the ways of the force. He’s learned them and experienced them in the real life challenges that we all will face. Regardless of who you are and what great quest you’ve been called to…you need a Yoda, a mentor…a coach.
The story of Paul’s first missionary journey is found in Acts 13. The story of Peter’s vision illuminating his understanding of clean and unclean is found in Acts 10:9-16.
There are two kinds of Yodas. There are the Peters and the Pauls.
Peter is like a sociologist…he helps us understand ourselves. Peters can be intellectually and culturally slow, but are interpersonally very quick. Peters are also typically more socially and relationally approachable and warm. They may be empaths but don’t have to be. Either way, they feel deeply and foster deep relational bonds.
Paul is like an anthropologist…he helps us understand the world around us. Paul was intellectually and culturally quick, but interpersonally and relationally very slow. Paul’s forte was the polemical bond…not the personal one. Pauls grab onto truths and concepts quickly and are able to translate and communicate them thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Journal Questions:
Have you had a Yoda (or Yodas) in your life? Who were they?
Do you think a Yoda always has to be older? Do you think all wisdom comes from age?
Do you think it’s more important for your Yoda to help you love much or think much? Or both?
Do you think you can ‘know’ something without loving it? Does loving come before or after knowing?