A Voice in My Head

I had coffee yesterday in Phoenix with a voice in my head.  You know what I mean? Some voices need to be ignored or understood or somehow resolved. But other voices provide guidance, support and encouragement for the spiritual journey.
I have a number of those mentor voices. It was good to share conversation with Tex Sample ... a retired professor from Saint Paul School of Theology who was on my doctoral commitee.  Tex nicknamed me "Jimmy Zen" ... which made some sense 35 years ago.  Tex had his seventy-fifth birthday this week but the conversation was about his current reading list and writing projects along with sharing about family, "conference gossip", etc.
A mentor doesn't intimidate but inspires. Tex and I don't always agree but his dedication to learning and research; his personal integrity and his commitment to excellence (whether it is understanding the best way to interpret Wesley and Paul or to play ball) ... all of this simply makes me want to do and be better.
Tex's approach to credo conference or a doctoral conference was to ask the theological  equivalent of a high hard fastball ... giving the student a chance to hit a home run.  In my doctoral conference (remember,  Tex is a sociologist) he asked: Jim, you make extensive use of John Wesley and Carl Jung. What are the philosophical connections in the way you use those resources? My response was honest but inadequate.
I thank God for the voices in my head who remind me of the love of Jesus and the claims of the Gospel and provide a vivid incarnational model for how to live faithfully.