The other day I received in the mail a note that almost made me cry. My friend, Tanner Olson, has been working extremely hard on a project he calls Written to Speak. Written to Speak is Tanner’s venue for sharing with the world his spoken word poetry. It’s unique. It’s encouraging. It’s fascinating. It’s creative. And it’s filled with faith and hope. He just came out with a brand new spoken word album that you can find here. I just got the album in the mail, and with it the simple note that spoke about my influence on his life. I was surprised in the best way possible.

The note said:

Who you are has changed who I am.

Your words have moved me.

Your love has guided me.

Your wisdom has shaped me.

Thank you.

Apparently I have had some kind of transforming, positive influence on Tanner’s life. One of the things I most love to do is mentor younger people. I have done so both intentionally and unintentionally. I spent a year formally mentoring four young men from our church. Each of them has moved forward in their lives and careers in ways that they were aiming and hoping for in our days together. All I did was ask them questions and provide some guidance.

As a university professor for thirteen years I had the opportunity to informally mentor numerous young people as they made there way through college. Sometimes I knew I was doing it. Other times I didn’t find out until years later that I had had a positive influence on some of my students.

Tanner was in that latter category. I had him in a few of my classes. He was always the class clown — not in a disruptive or disrespectful way, but in a genuinely funny way that brought levity into the midst of some pretty serious topics. Once he graduated from college we stayed in touch on an occasional basis as he remained in the Milwaukee area. Later he asked me to write a letter of recommendation for him as he was applying for a position at a summer camp. After having that job for a couple of years he sought out my advice as he contemplated a move to Nashville to change careers and enter into an adventure. As serendipity would have it, after we moved to Florida we discovered that his parents, and the home in which he grew up, are just a few miles from our current home. Our paths kept crossing in more and more meaningful ways.

Almost without me knowing it, I had become a mentor to Tanner. He would ask me for words of advice. Check in every once in while. We would have coffee together every time he came to Florida.

Then came the note in the package with the new album. I knew that I enjoyed the conversations, notes, and times Tanner and I had together. But I guess I didn’t realize the depth of influence I was able to provide. I was humbled by that newfound knowledge.

Here are the lessons I’ve taken from this:

• Don’t be afraid to take younger people under your wing. Sometimes they get a bad rap for not learning from their elders. I’ve found just the opposite. Younger people today are eager to learn from those more experienced in life.
• Don’t be surprised when you are acknowledged for having positive influence. Without even knowing it you may be sharing a positive influence with someone in your life. Take advantage of opportunities to help and teach. Not only will you help others, but you will make the world a better place. That sounds cliche, but it’s true.
• Don’t be shy about sharing your gifts and wisdom with others. You have it. Don’t keep it to yourself. It just may help the person you least expect. It’s not a matter of boasting and pride, it’s a matter of love and help.

In the end, you may find that you yourself are the one that has been changed for the better.

So to Tanner I say:

Who you are has changed who I am.

Your words have moved me.

Your love has guided me.

Your wisdom has shaped me.

Thank you.

When have you been surprised by the positive influence you’ve had on someone?