Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday August 11, 2011

As many of you know I have at least one trait in common with pretty famous people. Most who know me well would not associate me with Albert Einstein. Yet we both were notoriously ignorant in math. I wish my friends would make a badge concerning my connection with Einstein.

Over the years Old Albert became a drum beater for good teaching saying on several occasions; "It is the art of inspired teaching that awakens the joy of learning." He did not say what subject, for the subject doesn't matter, the inspired teacher does.

My friend, Pastor and Mentor, Dr. Tom Wallace tells the story of giving up many good friends when the call of Christ became strong in his life and he set out to follow The Galilean wherever He led. In spite of the loss, he says that he now has thousands upon thousands of dear friends all around the world who are proud and thankful to be called his friends. There really is compensation in following Christ.

The noted theologian and TV commentator from the much revered 60 Minutes program, Andy Rooney said it this way:

"Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives."

Mr. Rooney's comment is certainly true in my life. I recall every teacher I ever sat under, and believe me all of them knew they had sit on me figuratively and a few had to sit on me literally. Certainly among the many a favored few are remembered more vividly than others. I do not recall what subject most taught, but I do recall as though it were yesterday the ones with compassion for me and for the kids from our impoverished area.

The teachers I recall went on to greater things, one a superintendent of a gigantic system, my first grade teacher became a Circuit Court Judge, perhaps in hopes of greeting me on more even ground. Several of the female teachers whom I dearly loved abandoned me for marriage. But such is life.

In a way all of us are teachers, either for good or for bad. We teach by our example, not by what we say. We act out what we fervently believe. Period. As Mr. Rooney said teachers are remembered. How many can you recall right now, in the next five minutes?

The teachers we remember most fondly are the ones who discovered what we valued and found the way to get this into our hearts. Often this involved putting the proper emphasis on these sometimes twisted values. Jesus Christ the Son of God is very good at this. He primarily uses other teachers to get it across to serious students.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit.

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