Who Do We Teach...

As you get a few years under your belt, life boils down to fewer and fewer sayings that summarize and contain your life lessons.  For me, one of the greatest truths is:

If it isn't right at home - it isn't right anywhere!
Seguidor del Camino

Everything starts at home.  Our integrity is seen best by those who are close to us when no one is looking and our guard is down.  Ultimately, who we are when there are no expectations, penalties, pressures or costs is who we are.  If he does not communicate well at home, he can believe whatever he wants about business communications but he isn't a great communicator.  How much better could he be if he could communicate well with those who know him best?  No matter how great the benevolent work is for others, no matter the quantity of that charity - if she is not charitable and benevolent at home, she is not truly benevolent.  If the waters are tossed at home, the waters are not great anywhere else in our lives.  Home should be peace and joy.  It should be not only the launching pad for great people for great days but also the solid foundation at the end of that great day.

Teaching is the same - it starts at home just like everything else.  If you cannot teach effectively at home, you are fooling yourself in thinking that you are a great teacher (even if you teach thousands).  Contrary to the belief of most people, the truly mature teacher will tell you it is easier to teach thousands.  After all the learners want to be there, they can't test the teacher's material, there is an excitement, there is an implied "authority status" given to the teacher. 

Are you aware of how many great public speakers are not respected by those closest to them including their own families?  Have you ever thought about how funny it is that a speaker regarding having solid families tells us to spend quantity (not just quality) time with our kids while they travel all over the country away from their kids?  Put yourself in the place of the "preacher's kids" who hear about this great life and see Dad help everyone while they only get the tired shell at home.

If the people at home do not respect us as a teacher, are not impacted by our teaching, do not share in our teaching, then we are most likely not teachers at all or at least not the best teachers that we could be.  So to the question, "Who do we teach?" I answer, "Teach whoever is at home first and foremost. Then teach and live it before your community whether that be workers, congregation or friends. Then teach those beyond your borders...then..."

So start by teaching at home but remember it is not about us dispensing wisdom and walking off.  True teaching should have an impact and be respected.  Though you are not accountable for the short term disagreeing audience that simply has to listen (have teens?), you are accountable to teach great things that, if applied, will make them great.  It is not someone else's job to teach your family, your spouse or your child.  Brothers and sisters should teach each other great and everlasting truths.  Moms should teach dads and both should bless their kids - preparing them for the big bad world.   

Teaching at home is the most difficult task.  You will teach when it is not popular or even wanted.  You will have to master grace because you have to live together.  You will have to prove your worth by teaching regularly - not only in times of need or crisis - in order to gain their respect.  You will have to chose home as your first calling and most important pupils.  However, when you can teach at home then you can teach anywhere - I promise you.  You will learn to be on "ready alert" and to synthesize the correct response in times of quesiton or crisis.  You will learn the importance of long term every day fertilization for long term growth. 

Do you teach well at home?  If not, quit teaching everywhere you can (yes, even lighten up at work until you become a master at home) and go home.  Focus on becoming a great, true, wise, consistent, graceful teacher at home before you go back out. Return to real teaching and find again the importance of only teaching invaluable lessons that have life changing consequences.  The small group and crowd will thank  you.  The employees will thank you. 

 What do you do if you have no family?  Does this article apply to you?  Make sure that you are learning and teaching yourself and remember, there is still a core around you somewhere.  You are not isolated - do you teach and grow with that group that would know you well enough to determine your integrity?  Perhaps your core is at work or dorm friends and you may have to redefiine "family" but are you proactively involved in teaching and learning with them?  Also, don't forget - we all have family (even if seemingly adopted!) and we can invest in them as well even at a distance.