The Painful Side Of Accountability

I don't know of anybody who gets involved with having a mentor or an accountabilty partner who isn't excited about it...or at least looking forward to the good things it has to offer. It seems that accountabilty partnerships go through an ackward stage at first...both partners are trying to feel each other out, both wondering how far to go, and neither one wanting to offend the other too badly. It's okay to take things slowly, to build trust, and to develop a real caring investment in your brother's success--that's all a part of building the relationship--but the real "nitty-gritty" stage, the part of the relationship that actually does the most good is what comes once that initial foundation is laid and you start to know each other's personalities, weaknesses, and quirks. Once you're comfortable enough with each other to ask the hard questions, and to be a little tougher about things, things get serious. It's a little embarrassing to have to admit that you haven't done what you committed to doing, that you've failed to follow through on your assignments, or that you've made the same old mistake...again. It's HARD to have to be honest and tell your mentoring brother about your mess-ups and indiscretions when you know you're going to be reproved, rebuked, corrected, and instructed in righteousness...and that's the way it should be. Whether it's comfortable or not, it's purifying, edifying, and beneficial.
Since being involved in my accountability partnership with Steve, I've got more consistency in my devotional life and being more consistently responsible on my job, and am taking better care of my personal life than EVER before...and that feels good. I'm actually becoming the responsible, in-control man that I always wanted to become--and that really does make it worth it. I sometimes feel sorry for Steve...he HAS to have a lot of patience to work with me. I teasingly tell him he's the "goody two-shoes" that "mamma always loved best"...because it seems like I've always overlooked something...--but the fact remains that it's worth it...we're getting there...and I'd recommend this to ANYone.