It was a usual Sunday morning at church when I decided to introduce myself to my pastor. Confidently shaking his hand, I said, “Hi! My name is Caroline Monberg. I am looking for a mentor.” Taken aback by my spurt of boldness, he asked me a few questions, and by the end of our conversation offered, “Let me introduce you to my wife, Dianne.” As an ambitious college freshman, I was eager for mentorship but had very little understanding of what it could look like. That younger version of myself had no idea the effect that this small but significant moment would have on my life.
The mentorship I have experienced under Dianne over the past four years has been sharpening, stretching, and life giving. One of the most pivotal lessons I have learned as Dianne’s mentee is the beauty of living a humble life. Since I was little, I have aspired to “do big things” and “make a difference” in the world. While I still aim to be a difference maker, watching the way Dianne lives her life has helped me reframe what it really means to change the world. Dianne shows up in the ordinary moments of people’s lives, whether it’s making a meal for someone who needs it, volunteering in the kids after school literacy program, or listening to someone’s story over coffee. Oftentimes it is in the small, daily, and simple tasks that we have the potential to make the most impact. What we do with the mundane parts of our lives is equally important as what we do with the extraordinary parts.
As I have had the chance to observe the way Dianne lives, I have found immense value in showing up for the people around me, listening intently to what people have to say, taking on the tasks that no one else wants to do, and striving to act with a kind and humble heart. I am thankful for the seemingly small, yet immensely impactful moment that led me to know who Dianne is and the way it has allowed me to reshape what it means to be a difference maker. Dianne demonstrated for me that the tediousness of everyday life can create complacency, but when stewarded with intentionality and humility, I have the most potential to change the world around me. It is certainly not the most glamorous upon first glancing, but beyond the surface, I believe it is one of the most valuable things worth pursuing.
