The Power of Mentoring

Recently National Geographic featured an article on orphaned elephants in Kenya, and a relatively new program to help save these endangered animals. Elephants are some of the family-oriented and intelligent animals that share the planet with us. Attempts in the past to save these elephants, orphaned by war or poachers, and reintroduce them into the wild have not been very successful. According to the article, elephants can exhibit signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The article also reports that wildlife officials tried to reintroduce a number of these male orphans in a particular area with troubling results - the young males were wreaking havoc. They were overly aggressive and killed 40 rhinos. Then the park rangers brought six older bull elephants into the "population of about 85 elephants and the aberrant behavior of marauding adolescent males" stopped. Fascinating.

Our younger generation also needs guidance. Pauls' charges to Timothy and Titus are applicable to us today:
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2) In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned. (Titus 2:7-8a) (from Family Life, September-October 2011)