Sticks and Stones

Sticks and stones may break your bones but words....well actually...

James 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

 It seems appropriate this time of year to be talking about the importance, the responsibility of being a teacher.  How many jobs allow someone to hold a captive audience for 40 minutes or more?  How many jobs allow that same person to prepare a lesson or sermon with no prior review?  

I have been fortunate enough to experience some really wonderful teachers in my life.  One I remember so well, Mrs. Gutman.  She was my teacher in fourth grade and I loved her instantly because she had once been my father’s teacher as well.  She was an amazing woman who not only taught me academics but social responsibility.  As a Jewish woman she reigned in my new found Christian dos and don’ts.  Ahhh…you see at the ripe old age of 10 I thought I knew enough to teach as well.  Certainly we can all be teachers at any age, but she taught me that I better be ready for the questions that come with teaching, especially questions such as: “you say this but you do this.”

          Mrs. Gutman had the unique ability to make me think more.  I can remember walking down the hall with her at the end of the day and often those conversations would end with her gently asking me “Why do you think that?”  I never stopped asking myself that question.

          I have had other great teachers but not as many as one might like to think, considering there were more than twelve years of school to follow.  The teachers that made a difference were the ones who loved what they taught, and wanted others to love learning as well. 

          As a parent and teacher I am aware of the power a teacher’s words hold. I have seen an 80 year old man’s eyes well with tears as he recalled the treatment he received from an elementary school teacher.  Often the treatment one receives in school colors their opinion of school well into adulthood.  The parent that does not show up for parent teacher conferences may be the very person who associates the school experience negatively.

          One word, one action, one bad day can hurt enough to be remembered a lifetime.  This goes for pastors and churches as well.  I have been blessed by the gifts and talents of wonderful clergy/teachers, these people like Mrs. Gutman taught me to ask the question “why?”  However as a pastor I also know that many people cannot come back to a church that hurt them in the past.

          James continues to say: “look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”

          At some point in our lives we all will teach. Whether it is teaching someone how to change a tire, tie a shoe, use a new tool, a computer, or even about scripture; how we teach and the words we use are powerful.  Words can inspire in subtle or fantastic ways, they can challenge us to be better people, to look at how we live and to ask the questions that encourage growth or they can discourage us and stunt growth.

 Our words can get away from us, causing us to rush for damage control, and of course that is only when we are aware of the fire we have set.  Or they can get away from us the way Mrs. Gutman’s words did.  Words that would motivate a 50 year old woman to write about her fourth grade teacher, forty year old words that encourage me still to ask “why”.  Words that taught me well that what I say can hurt or heal.