A Teacher's Report Card

I'm reading J.B. Phillips' translation of the New Testament this year, and I recently came upon his rendering of Mark 6:30. "The apostles returned to Jesus and reported to him every detail of what they had done and taught."  Here is a crucial lesson for everyone who seeks to be a teacher of others.  The teacher must regularly come back to his master -- the one from whom the teacher has received the gift and calling to teach -- and report every detail of what he has done (practiced) and taught.

A teacher is not an authority in and of himself.  Rather, he or she, as a teacher, must always see himself as subject to the scrutiny of others.  This is the way that the teacher yields and submits his life and teaching to the constant evaluation of his master.  For the teacher who “professes” this will mean a recognition that “though in my profession I believe that I am correct and indeed am willing to make the relevant commitments based on that belief—and in the case of religious beliefs, the risk of faith—yet I am willing to have others explore the truth-claim for themselves” (Reichenbach 20).

I need to take heed to the apostles' example and regularly report to my Master Teacher all that I have done and taught.  May I always be ready and willing to hear the evaluations and critiques of my colleagues and my students as they explore the substance of my life and teaching for themselves.  No less than the Apostle Paul was subject to the scrutiny of others as those in Berea he taught searched the Scriptures daily to see if what he had said was actually so.

Reichenbach, Bruce R. “On Being a Professor: The Case of Socrates.”

Should God Get Tenure?: Essays on Religion & Higher Education. Ed. David W. Gill. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997. 8-26.

A Presence that Disturbs One with Joy . . .

In his provocative work on discipleship, Anthony Gittins describes five signs that he suggests "seem to mark those who really believe in the Spirit of God. "Such people . .

•  Actually go looking for trouble, for troubled people, as Jesus did;
• Pray to become aware, to be disturbed, lest they fail to hear and respond to the cries of the needy and the structures of sin;
• Are united though diverse, so that the world may believe (Jn 17:21);
• Are convinced that they can help change the world -- or that they will be found guilty if they fail to do so;
• Live exciting and worthwhile lives" (27).

Reflection upon these marks of genuine Third Article belief (as confessional Christians declare in the Third Article of the Creed, "I believe in the the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life . . ."), should cause a substantial pause for any one seeking to live a life examined under the Word of God.

Gittins continues, "Traditionally, we have prayed to the Holy Spirit to come and "renew the face of the earth." How on earth can that happen without some disturbance of what is going on in our own lives?  The challenge for us is to allow our lives to be interrupted.  

"But that is easier said than done:  as surely as our instinct pulls our hand away from a hot stove, so do we react against whatever interferes with our plans or patterned lives.  So what do we do?  Either we seek to be led by the Spirit of we resist the Spirit.

"But we cannot claim to be Spirit-led if our lives are governed and controlled by personal plans and structures. Some of the most gifted of use are the most rigid, making a virtue of being in control and leaving very little room for divine disturbances" (28-29).

As I sit here beside my mother's hospital bed, watching and waiting with her during her final hours upon this earth, I'm pondering Gittins' words.  May I yield myself, my life, my mother, my family, and my calling to your Spirit's guidance and control, Lord Christ.  May I this day continue to study and authentically practice, by your enabling grace, the lesson of being ready to be interrupted.

The Emperor's Three Questions

Thich Nhat Hanh concludes his little book on mindfulness with a story told by Tolstoy about an emperor who had three questions he wished answered.  I believe this story conveys some profound truth that all who acknowledge God's revelation through common grace should heed.

"One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter.  What is the best time to do each thing?  Who are the most important people to work with?  What is the most important thing to do at all times?

"The Emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing that whoever could answer the questions would receive a great reward.  Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer.

"In reply to the first question, one person advised that the emperor make up a thorough time schedule, consecrating every hour, day, month, and year for certain tasks and then follow the schedule to the letter.  Only then could he hope to do every task at the right time.

"Another person replied that it was impossible to plan in advance and that the emperor should put all vain amusements aside and remain attentive to everything in order to know what to do at what time. Someone else insisted that, by himself, the emperor could never hope to have all the foresight and competence necessary to decide when to do each and every task and what he really needed was to set up a Council of the Wise and then to act according to their advice.

"Someone else said that certain matters required immediate decision and could not wait for consultation, but if he wanted to know in advance what was going to happen he should consult magicians and soothsayers.

"The responses to the second question also lacked accord.  One person said that the emperor needed to place all his trust in administrators, another urged reliance on priests and monks, while others recommended physicians.  Still others put their faith in warriors.

"The third question drew a similar variety of answers. Some said science was the most important pursuit.  Others insisted on religion.  Yet others claimed the most important thing was military skill.  The emperor was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given.

"After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man.  The emperor wished to find the hermit to ask him the thee questions, though he knew the hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor, refusing to have anything to do with person of wealth or powers.  So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and ordered his attendants to wait for him at the foot of the mountain while he climbed the slope alone to seek the hermit.

"Reaching the holy man's dwelling place, the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut.  When the hermit saw the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig.  The labor was obviously hard on him. He was an old man, and each time he thrust his spade into the ground to turn the earth, he heaved heavily.

"The emperor approached him and said, 'I have come here to ask your help with three questions:  When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?'  The hermit listened attentively but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging.  The emperor said, 'You must be tired.  Here, let me give you a hand with that.'  The hermit thanked him, handed the emperor the spade, and then sat down on the ground to rest.

"After he had dug tow rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions.  The hermit still did not answer, but instead stood up and pointed to the spade and said, 'Why don't you rest now?  I can take over again.'  But the emperor continued to dig.  One hour passed, then two.  Finally the sun began to set behind the mountain.  The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, 'I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can't give me any answer, please let me know so that I can get on my way home.'

"The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor, 'Do you hear someone running over there?'  The emperor turned his head.  They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods.  He ran wildly, pressing his hands against a bloody wound in his stomach.  The man ran toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground, where he lay groaning.

"Opening the man's clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep gash.  The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it, but the blood completely soaked it within minutes. He rinsed the shirt out and bandaged the wound a second time and continued to do so until the flow of blood had stopped.

"At last the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for a drink of water.  The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water.  Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold.  The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit's bed.

"The man closed his eyes and lay quietly.  The emperor was worn out fro a long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden.  Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep.  When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain.  For a moment he forgot where he was and what he had come here for.  He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man also looking around him in confusion.  When he saw the emperor, he stared at him intently and then said in a faint whisper, 'Please forgive me.'

"'But what have you done that I should forgive you?' the emperor asked.  'You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you.  I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property.  When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to surprise you on your way back and kill you.

"'But after waiting a long time there was still no sign of you, and so I left my ambush in order to seek you out.  But instead of finding you, I came across your attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran her.  If I hadn't met you I would surely be dead by now.  I had intended to kill you, but instead you saved my life!  I am ashamed and grateful beyond words.  If I live, I vow to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren to do the same.  Please grant me your forgiveness.'

"The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy.  He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man's property and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed.  After ordering his attendant to take the man home, the emperor returned to see the hermit.  Before returning to the palace the emperor wanted to repeat his three questions one last time.  He found the hermit sowing seeds in the earth they had dug the day before.

"The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. 'But your questions have already been answered.'  'How's that?' the emperor asked, puzzled.  'Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home.  Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me.  Therefore the most important time was the time you were digging in the beds, the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me.

"'Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him.  Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of his wound.

"'Remember that there is only one important time and that is now.  The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.  The most important person is always the person you are with, who is right before you, for who know if you will have dealings with any other person in the future?  The most important pursuit is making the person standing at your side happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life."

Living to Teach Rather Than Teaching to Live

As I have been pondering the possibility of returning to teach at Handong University in Korea, I have been revisiting the Analects of Confucius.  One in particular is especially applicable to anyone who senses that the calling upon their life is a call to teach.

Of his own role as a teacher, Confucius said, "For anyone who brings even the smallest token of appreciation, I have yet to refuse instruction."


This responsibility to the one seeking instruction was again impressed upon me when I read this morning these verses in The Wisdom of Solomon: "The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her."  So when one is met with a request from those who are sincerely seeking instruction, the one who has a call to teach must give the most deliberate consideration to responding.


This type of thinking challenges me to confront the question:  Do you teach to live or do you live to teach?  Another way to put the question would be to examine whether I am accept the offer to teach primarily and principally as a means to make a living, or do I view the opportunity to teach as an open door through which God is directing me to proceed in faith depending upon him and him alone to provide for my earthly needs?


Am I taking no thought for tomorrow, anxious over what I will eat or where I will live or how I will be clothed?  Am I willing to follow on trusting the one who is my Guide, not only to make the way clear, but also to provide all that will be needed for me to progress along that way?  Here Bonhoeffer instructs: "The only way to win assurance is by leaving to-morrow entirely in the hands of God and by receiving from him all we need for to-day" (Discipleship, 178).

  

"Watch and Pray"

I find myself in a time of waiting.  As I ponder the options that are before me, I continue to wait on the responses of others to clarify what opportunities are presently open to me.  While prayer is always essential to the one who seeks to follow Christ, I'm realizing even more how necessary it is during these times of waiting.

Bonhoeffer's comments on the petition "Thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth" are particularly poignant as I seek to practice living a submitted, singular and sacrificed life.  He writes:  "In fellowship with Jesus his followers have surrendered their own wills completely to God's, and so they pray that God's will may be done throughout the world.  No creature on earth shall defy him.  But the evil will is still alive even in the followers of Christ, it still seeks to cut them off from fellowship with him; and that is why they must also pray that the will of God may prevail more and more in their hearts every day and break down all defiance" (Discipleship 166).

Psalm 40 echoes this theme -- "my delight is to do your will, O Lord!" -- and so may my heart and mind!  Show me your way, O Lord; lead me in the path you have set out ahead of me.  Again, Bonhoeffer speaks to the heart of the matter:  "It is always true of the disciple that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, and he must therefore "watch and pray" (Discipleship 170).

Practicing Mindfulness

A few weeks ago I learned that a teaching opportunity that I had been told would be opening for me here in the next academic year will, in fact, not be opening.  The door to that opportunity seems to be closing or is actually completely closed now.  I had been planning on that position, but now it appears that I have a much greater need to practice daily mindfulness rather than living so much for an imagined future whose fulfillment was and is completely out of my hands.

In the midst of this time of searching for guidance and reflection upon my calling to teach, I have started to read Thich Nhat Hanh's little book, The Miracle of Mindfulness.  Thich Nhat Hanh had a substantial impact upon Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in the movement for peace in Vietnam during the 1960's.

I was first introduced to the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh by my good friend and colleague, John Han, when I served with him on the faculty of Missouri Baptist University.  As I have read, I have been challenged by Hanh's insights in to living a whole life.  In this little book, he writes: "Mindfulness is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves. . . it is the miracle which can call back in a flash our dispersed mind and restore it to wholeness so that we can live each minute of life" (21).

Thich Nhat Hanh's instruction on the practice of mindfulness echoes the theme of "single-mindedness" that pervades the New Testament.  More than merely a self-discipline, single-mindedness is very much a gift of the Holy Spirit as he is at work forming within each follower of Jesus the mind of Christ.  Paul exhorts the disciple of Christ to do whatever your hand finds to do heartily as unto to the Lord (Colossians 3:23) and to do all things to the glory of God.  This is practicing mindfulness.

May I be living more wholly in the fullness of my present calling today that I may know and practice such mindfulness in each moment that is granted to me.

Lehr, Lehre, Lehrer

Over the past ten weeks or so, I've been attempting to study German -- not conversational German -- though, that would be tough enough .  No, my PhD program requires that all students demonstrate competency in Theological German (frequently characterized by compound words the length of entire lines and complex sentences as long as normal paragraphs in English) by satisfactorily passing a translation exam.  Mine is now set for one week from this Thursday.  I would greatly value your prayers!

My study has been and continues to be a formative and enlightening experience.  I'm finding that by learning another language, I'm also not only learning more about the meaning of words, but also about my own calling and mission in life.  Take, for instance, one of the words in German used to convey the concept of a "teacher."  That word is "Lehrer."  Cassell's German-English Dictionary defines this word as "teacher, schoolmaster, instructor, tutor."  It is based upon another word "Lehre" which may be translated into English with words such as "instruction, moral, warning, lesson, precept."

Both words, though, are built upon a more basic concept expressed in the word "Lehr"  Here's where the whole notion of being a teacher finds its foundation, its root.  "Lehr" has the meaning of a "pattern or model."  When I discovered this interrelationship of ideas expressed in the progression from Lehr to Lehre to Lehrer, I thought of the call of Jesus to his disciples -- "Follow me."  He is his follower's pattern and model, and, as it was in Jesus' life, so also everyone who would seek to be a teacher of others can only teach what that one's life models.

We will only be a Lehrer of the Lehr that our life embodies.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ~ 1 Peter 2:21


. . . to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.  ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:9