Tribute to a mentor - David Mays

David Mays was an inspiration to me and an example of several of the characteristics that I have tried to emulate as a mobilizer. After learning that Dave died this week, I am realizing how much of an example he was for me.

Pass the good stuff along
Dave was the one who introduced me to the idea of book notes as a tool that I could employ in my life. I had been inspired by lots of writers and bloggers who write fascinating book reviews and have wished that I could be so creative, but never took the time to develop the habit. Something about Dave’s book notes made it seem more do-able; I didn’t need to take time or energy to come up with something to say about a particular book but could simply highlight actually quotes & lines from the text. Let the author speak for himself or herself. It’s simpler that way, cleaner, & free from my interpretation or bias. I’ve been dabbling with book notes for several years now, but had just this week been sensing an urgency to aggressively build my own collection of book notes.

I appreciate the simplicity and the power of the idea of book notes. It is the perfect way to maximize truth and wisdom that has been collected and composed by the greats and to pass it along, to disseminate it to others who can benefit from it. It is a classic example of open-handed living – opening my hands to receive blessing and then opening them yet again to share it with others.

By all means
Perhaps my main theme as a mobilizer has been to try to employ all means possible to motivate and equip others to become what they were created to be. David Mays was an example of someone who was creative in using all means to get the job done – by putting on conferences and recruiting people to attend them, by serving in organizations, by coming up with innovative tools and by writing books of his own. His example has inspired me to be creative in coming up whatever I could find to help people.

Get out of the way
Recently I have been mulling over the phrase “connecting greatness with greatness” – to describe one aspect of the privilege of being a mobilizer. I don’t have to be something special or great or awesome, but I can rub shoulders with the greats – whether in real life or through their writings – and can learn from their vast wisdom and example. On the other hand, I can also watch for potential greatness in those in my sphere of influence – and connect them with each other. Dave Mays was a pro at connecting greatness with greatness. He didn’t project self-importance; instead he seemed to thoroughly enjoy pointing others to the resources they needed but without having to be noticed or appreciated. I can learn from that.

Life lessons
As I’ve typed up the ways that David Mays has been an example for me, I realize that these are not only true for my mobilizing work, but for all of life. This list can help me in pretty much every area of life: pass the good stuff along – sharing with others, look for creative solutions in unlikely places, and stay out of the way as I connect greatness with greatness.