‘She did what she could’

I had a great time this evening with one of my mentors and friends, Derek Tidball. We met in London and ate together as I shared with him some of the journey I’ve been on over this last year. During our conversation Derek reminded me of that beautiful moment in Jesus’ life when a woman anoints Jesus with very expensive perfume. When she is rebuked by Judas and the disciples for wasting this expensive item on Jesus, Jesus defends her and says five words that until Derek pointed them out to me, I had overlooked. Jesus says, ‘She did what she could.’ Derek encouraged me that Jesus looks at us with that same perspective and that we can rest happily in Jesus’ invitation to do what we can. Great stuff!

It was a precious time for me in the midst of a demanding ministry season to meet a great friend and to receive a huge dose of wisdom and guidance. We walked back to the station, sat on the steps outside Charing Cross and prayed, as London carried on its busy life around us.

When I reflect on the formational impact that the guidance and support of key friends like Derek has had in my life, I am left with a deep sense of gratitude to God for them, and it inspires me to also mentor and invest in others. In his excellent book, Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels says ’Those of us who are more seasoned in leadership must order our lives in such a way that we can carve out time in the next generation of leaders. It is our responsibility. We imperil the church and the world if we don’t take that responsibility seriously…We must identify emerging leaders, invest in them, give them kingdom responsibilities, and coach them into effectiveness. Then we can each experience the thrill of watching them soar.’

Like the woman that Jesus defended, may we do what we can with what he has given us, and may we invest our lives in others so that we can see people grow, develop and soar.