06.01.13 The 7th Key for Evaluating a Prospective Partner's Spiritual Alignment Is the Person Open to Mentorship, Correction and Spiritual Growth?

7. Is the Person Open to Mentorship, Correction and Spiritual Growth?

Assess how the prospective partner responds to guidance, self-reflection or spiritual direction. Who are his or her trusted spiritual mentors, guides, referents or role models? Does the individual listen with humility and an earnest willingness to grow? Is she or he receptive to correction or does the person resist guidance and prefer to rely solely on his or her own judgement? Does the person consistently demonstrate teachability and a genuine openness to learning?

As already emphasised, Mary must have noted just how eagerly Joseph was to receive divine correction. For he had planned to exit their relationship until God stopped him at the last minute; and, the man promptly and willingly obeyed. She had also witnessed Joseph's teachable spirit when he welcomed God's counsel with open arms to flee to Egypt, displaying exemplary readiness to receive guidance and follow it to the letter. Joseph didn't challenge God by demanding a face-to-face interaction similar to Mary’s and the angel. Instead, he accepted the dreams as God speaking; and was so sure to the extent of investing finances, time and effort to travel to a country where he probably couldn't do carpentry to earn a living and sustain his family. (Matthew 1:24; Matthew 2:13–15). Mary would also attest to Joseph's accountability to God since he made a choice to take her as wife without first seeking for human validation.

Mary was not the only one who would have witnessed a partner’s accountability, teachable spiritual and mentorship spirit. On Joseph's side, he must have observed how the Holy Spirit mentored Mary plus the speed with which she would pick those lessons and apply them. Right from the day the angel visited, God had educated her about the child she would bear. The young virgin was so teachable that she kept all that information in her heart (Luke 2:19). Joseph must have seen her applying that ‘training manual’ as Jesus grew up. And although writers say that he passed away well before Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, Mary was there for Jesus the whole time.

In Donald's case and much to his surprise, Harriet was not at all ready to be corrected using biblical principles. The day he encouraged her to pause and pray before reacting impulsively to a conflict with Dr. Shirley, she shunned guidance and adamantly insisted on handling the matter in a ‘carnal' way. Much as Donald had nursed dreams of mentoring the young doctor in her walk with God, she had made it very clear that such an endeavor was hardly a priority. Her behaviours sent a message that she was not prepared to be accountable to God with regard to the way she used her time even when it meant ‘boozing’ a bit; or in the company she kept, such as the man Donald found in her home that awful Sunday morning.

A shared willingness to receive mentorship, correction and accountability profoundly strengthens spiritual alignment. This leads to visible spiritual growth, wise decision-making and greater spiritual maturity, individually and as a couple. These attributes enable challenges to be addressed constructively through shared learning and growth.