Date Archives June 6, 2020

Dear Mentee || The Iceberg Principle

I have this segment where I write what’s desperately on my heart. Obviously, that’s what the entire blog is for, but this is different. On the blog, I’m addressing myself, addressing my future children and grandchildren, addressing you and your uncles and neighbours. This segment though is addressing my mentees or proteges, if you’ll like. The things that I desperately want to pass on to the younger ones (not only age wise) that’s what I’ll write here. They are some of the life tips I’ll tell my younger ones who come to sit beside me at night and say “advise me. Tutor me”. Its a broad range of advice.

Never let a person come to your tree seeking shade but get scorched.

Never let a hungry person come for fruits and return hungry.

You should have more stuff within than it appears without. You shouldn’t appear to have more quality on the outside than you really have within.

But this, is the bloated mentality of the world today – particularly with the reign of social media e.g Instagram. Appearance. Appearance has won over reality.

By all means let people see the light within you, the beauty and glory. But do not be all for show. Why appear inviting but when people come close, they return hungry or scorched?

What’s the iceberg principle? An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater ice that has broken off a glacier or an ice shelf and is floating freely in open water. Usually of an height greater than 16 feet above sea level and the thickness must be 98-164 feet and the ice must cover an area of at least 5,382 square feet.

With an iceberg, what’s going on outside (above water surface) is such a small percentage of what’s going on underneath. You have to dive down.

In your life, let there be depth.

This is not a call to dim your light or shrink. Rather, it is one to tell you to that the light that shines farthest, is the light that shines brightest at home – C. T Studd.

Don’t just lead amazing prayer meetings when you gather round at church or campus fellowship. Lead a personal life of prayer. Don’t just have smooth Bible study language when you’re called upon to teach. Have a bible-directed life.

Don’t just wear makeup and glam up when you’re outside, keep your bed and belongings made-up. Don’t be more intellectually vibrant to the public eye than you really are. Strive for depth.

Let people come in and see the beauty of simplicity. See the brilliance of Jesus Christ who though he was King of all, came in an animal stable. And on the flip side, who though was birthed in an animal stable had enough stuff to keep the doctors and doctoral candidates in awe of his wisdom, and enough authority and truth to bring rulers to their knees.

They say the greatest investment you could ever have is personal investment in yourself.
“Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above” 2 King’s 19:30. Roots make the fruits.

That’s the secret today. Be more inside than you are outside. Be authentic. Be solid within. Internalize first before you express.

There’s a Yoruba adage that teaches you to keep good principles in your left hand so you don’t drop it when you use your right hand to eat. Hold the Iceberg principle on your left hand!

And with that, it’s a wrap for today. I hope you’re well. Feel free to check in through the comments section. And don’t forget to share this with your friends.

With plenty of love,

Debby.