Be Strong

             You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (II Timothy 2:1-2)

             If you read Scripture, you’ll notice a theme of education and discipline. It’s a pattern for the development of individuals, communities, and nations. It’s a theme some of us would prefer to ignore for one reason or another.  One reason is our history. We haven’t fared well with community. We assume it’s our fault, and it might be. But we have learned that we “run with scissors and don’t play well with others.” Sometimes, it’s that we’re doers. It’s easier to step in and just do it rather than teach someone else. It might be more convenient. Others may not step forward when they should and take the responsibility that is theirs.

           But no matter our background, we’re called to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Dallas Willard suggested that we should “burn grace the way a jet burns fuel on takeoff.” That brings to mind the notion that we might want to give others enough grace for them to burn it like a car with half-a-tank burns gas. I’m not entirely sure. I’m not exactly sure how we’re to do that. It seems to me that God would be the one burning grace in the former illustration, and we would be in the letter. Regardless, we’re to be strong in grace. Whether that grace is God’s gift to us or our gift to someone else, we’re to be strong in it. \

         Part of that grace that we extend to others may be in what we teach others. So, a challenge has come to mind. I don’t want to make it too difficult, but I don’t want it to be too easy either. As you will, aim for 1, 3, or 5 things you could model for or teach to others. What do you do that you could teach someone else to do? And for each one, what personal characteristic or virtue would you be teaching them along with the skill. I could, for example, teach others to speak publicly, and that would involve teaching them courage. I could teach others to garden, which also requires courage but also love and patience. I don’t think I’m very good at gardening. I’m just learning, but I could teach what I’ve learned. And, I could teach at least a little about birds. That would involve teaching attention to detail and patience. Similarly, I could teach photography with the same virtues, or my system for character generation, which involves creativity. What about you?