I spoke with the mother of a young man that I had the privilege to influence on a weekly basis some years ago. She told me he was about to graduate college next year. She was telling me that he had recently come home to visit over the Thanksgiving holiday and had invited some friends over to hang out and make some music. He had forgotten the guitar that he usually plays and pulled out the first guitar that he had ever gotten. That guitar was one I had given to him to encourage him to pursue his dream for music. She said when that happened that they all took the trip down memory lane.

You see, that was a time that I had been training elementary, middle and high school kids in the arts. I had a summer camp that was a unique way of exposing kids for the first time to the arts, as well as, cultivating the gift in the ones that had experience. It was my privilege to have a very gifted and talented group of artists to assist in facilitating the training process. For one to two weeks every summer we poured out our very best into a newbreed of artist.

This young man I’m writing about is one of those that we trained. He had the desire, and the dream was already in his heart, he just needed someone to help him unlock it all. He will soon graduate college and function as a youth director using his music and leadership skills to develop even more young people.

I am ever reminded that we should never minimize the affect we have on people. Never lose the willingness to give of your time, talent and resources. That is what I did and still do to this day. This young man I am writing about is evidence of what your investments can help to produce. He still has the guitar and he is embarking into his dream!

Tim Pecoraro

Tagged in: Development, Enabling, Help, Kindness, Leadership, Mentoring, People, Resources, Talent, Time