The Gift of Teaching

“If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” (Romans 12:7 NLT)

Constellations are groupings of stars that resemble familiar patterns. In ancient times, farmers used them to determine seasons, and sailors looked to them for navigation. The stars are out every night, but many of us never see them. Even if we make a point to go outside on a clear night and stare at them, we can’t connect the dots to see the pattern. It helps to have a teacher who is skilled at recognizing and explaining these points of light.

I have just enough teaching skills to appreciate teachers who are much more gifted than I am. I have had the privilege of having some truly high-caliber mentors. They see things that I can’t see. They connect the dots and point out the patterns that I miss. They keep reminding me of truths that are evident in the dark, if only I would look for them. They awaken my mind, inspire my spirit, and expand my perspective. They lead by example, showing me how learning never ends. I am grateful to these individuals who take time to understand the mysteries of life and explain what they have learned.

Not My Trash

“The earth turns gaunt and gray, the world silent and sad, sky and land lifeless, colorless. Earth Polluted by Its Very Own People.” (Isaiah 24:4 MSG)

I noticed it a year ago: an empty, crushed, soda can under the wooden bleachers near the track where I coach a group of kids. I usually make the kids pick up their trash, and I go behind them and clean up whatever they miss. I was afraid of getting stuck between the slats, or else I would have picked up the can.  A few of the kids were small and agile enough to squeeze under the bleachers and retrieve it. Last year, I made a general request to no one in particular: “Can someone get that soda can from under the bleachers?”

“It’s not ours,” they would reply.

I didn’t want to make anyone feel like I was blaming them, so I didn’t press the matter. And the soda can remained under the bleachers for a whole year. When I noticed it again at the start of this season, I knew I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I waited until everyone had left practice and awkwardly squeezed through the slats and retrieved the soda can. I wondered why I had waited so long to do what I knew all along needed to be done!

Most of us wouldn’t knowingly contribute to pollution, but we accept a certain amount of it as part of normal life. We think it’s unfair that anyone would expect us to be inconvenienced by problems we didn’t directly create. If our ancestors cut down trees to develop cities, or pesticide usage in a neighboring state is polluting rivers, or glaciers are melting because of global climate change, we don’t see it as our fault. Assigning blame, devising justifications, and ignoring messes do not solve the problem. It may not be our responsibility to fix it; there may also be others who are better suited for certain tasks than we are. However, if we see a need, and if it’s within our power to do the right thing, it would be an act of graciousness to do so. The earth may not turn gaunt, gray, silent, lifeless, or colorless in our lifetime, but we may be able to give future generations a chance to enjoy God’s creation by our small acts of kindness.

Hucksters

“You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us.” (2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT)

In my house, we have a habit of sniffing the milk before we pour it out of the container. The same applies to juice, ham, leftovers, etc. If something smells ‘off’, my husband and son pass it on to me for confirmation. For some reason, I have been designated as the final arbiter of food quality in our family. Even if the label says it’s still good, it has to pass my ‘sniff test’ before we consume it.

From time to time, we all meet people who seem questionable. When a situation or individual does not pass your ‘sniff test’, it is wise to consult the opinion of someone you trust. Don’t go by labels or external appearance. We often give people who look trustworthy the benefit of the doubt. Those who are well-groomed, articulate, charming, intelligent, and from a similar racial or social background can still be devious. Even old friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors, pastors, doctors, teachers, bankers, etc., can have their own agenda. Those who seek personal profit--whether in the form of admiration, financial gain, power, or pleasure--are neither sincere nor authentic. Whatever they offer is not safe for consumption.

The Village Inn Prophet

“For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” (John 3:34 NIV)

My husband and I were having a late breakfast at the Village Inn. We were seated in a section that was virtually empty other than one other diner and several servers who were cleaning tables and restocking condiments. The lone diner was an older black gentleman with a distinctive hairstyle; his grey hair stuck straight up. He seemed to be a regular customer, because the servers all knew him and carried on a conversation with him as he ate and they worked. My husband and I could overhear everything they said. They spoke about various subjects, but I noticed that in everything the man said, he gave glory to God. He continually spoke blessings upon the waiters, and that is why they hovered around him finding something to do. I was amazed by his boldness and devotion. As he finished his meal and gathered up his belongings, I couldn’t resist walking over and speaking to him. I told him how impressed I was at his transparent faith. He seemed surprised and momentarily flustered by my compliment. However, he quickly collected himself and looked me straight in the eye. Over the next few minutes he spoke and I listened. I don’t remember everything he said verbatim, but I could sense that there was truth and anointing behind his words. I recognized many verses from the third chapter of the Gospel of John:

‘God gives us the spirit without limit, so that we can speak Truth. We share what we have seen and heard, presenting our life as evidence. We stand beside Jesus, shining the spotlight on him. He must increase, while we decrease. We who practice living in truth come into God’s light, because we want others to know that God is really the one accomplishing everything through us. All glory and honor and praise to Almighty God.’

When he finished speaking, I asked the man his name. He replied: “Neither my name nor my title matters. I am your brother in Christ, and you are my sister in Christ.”

Then the man asked my husband’s permission before he gave me a hug and walked away--leaving the fragrance of Christ in his wake.

Behind the Scenes

“You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation.” (2 Corinthians 1:11 MSG)

I’ve been watching a fictional television series about abductions. The lead character is a former military operative who fights kidnappers and rescues victims. He is assisted by a tech genius who provides information about the criminals and how to fight them. This tech person does an inordinate amount of the work behind the screens. He collects data and connects the dots--identifying criminal history, tracking money, scanning social media, and reviewing security camera footage.  Although his role is less visible than that of the hero, his tech skills and tools play a part in every rescue operation.

Just as tech support is invaluable in fighting crime, prayer support is essential in withstanding darkness. For example, educators, health-care providers, police officers, social justice advocates, etc., are often on the frontlines of the battle against society’s ills. They need all the help they can get. Each of us can play our part by lifting up every situation to God in prayer. Our concern and assistance may provide some encouragement and strength to those in the field. Sometimes we may be allowed insights which can be useful to a particular crisis. Thus, through supplication and praise, we become a crucial part of the rescue operation. Our role as prayerful supporters may go unnoticed, but it is still an essential part of combating evil.

Usable Fruit

“They have become rotten to the core.” (Romans 3:12 GWT)

Every autumn, the apple trees in our backyard produce plenty of fruit. Most of them are imperfect. Some have slight blemishes; others are oddly shaped; not all are sweet. Yet, most of the fruit is usable. If a fruit has a  external blemish, I just cut that part off and use the rest. The only time I throw out an apple is if it has worms or is rotten from the core. These fruits are thrown in the compost pile to make next year’s fertilizer.

Every season of life, I meet loads of people. No one is perfect, but everyone has value. I try to get to know each person, to understand their essence. I work around their bruises and flaws. Underneath, I often discover empathy, gentleness, humility, wit, self-discipline, kindness, generosity, and sincerity. I try to encourage and emulate these good qualities. Occasionally, I have to deal with individuals who are rotten to the core. They are manipulative and malicious. Ingesting any part of what they offer can be harmful. Instead, these ordeals are only good for compost. These encounters can be useful learning experiences that fertilize growth and wisdom.

Load-bearing Walls

“Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2 CSB)

A load-bearing wall is an essential structural element in a building. It bears the weight of the roof and conducts the weight to the foundation. Curtain walls, on the other hand, are not load-bearing. When remodeling a home, curtain walls can be knocked down to open up spaces without any risk of damaging the main structure. In order to tell if a wall is load-bearing, you have to inspect the interiors of the attic space to see which walls are supporting the roof. Most of us have not even stepped foot into our own attics, much less any other buildings.  Thus, we have no clue what is essential and non-essential.

Each of us have characteristics that are fundamental to our structure. These traits may not always be the most noticeable, but they are the most significant. Only those who are willing to step into the attic spaces of our interior may ever discover these integral parts of our being. For example, I have a friend whose most obvious trait is her physical beauty. Yet, even if her looks faded, it would not change her essence. Those of us who know her intimately recognize that there is an essential goodness that holds her up. This is the load-bearing wall that supports all her other traits.

It takes time, patience, and discernment to understand the vital parts of ourselves and others. It is difficult to change these underlying characteristics, but they can be braced and strengthened by faith. Whatever our attributes, the weight of our structure needs to be conducted into the foundations of God, ensuring that our essence is held up by holiness.