The best teachers

Had a question posed once: "Who was the best teacher you had? Why?" Saw another quote today that went something like this: "The best learning happens when the learner likes the teacher. We don't learn from someone we can't stand." Do you agree?

One of the teachers I learned the most from was Mr. Staley. He taught music history. I can't say I really "liked" him. But neither would I say I couldn't stand him. What I did like about him was his passion for music history. He brought strange old instruments to class and would try to play ancient music. He told stories about people like Bach and Beethoven until you felt like you knew them somehow. But pervading it all was passion.

Anyway, it challenged me to think about effective teaching/learning. It doesn't take place in a vacuum. It happens best in relationship. No wonder the disciples turned the world upside down. Consider living life with the Rabbi...

The Influence of a godly Mother

(I wrote this last Friday but didn't get to post it until today...)

With a single kiss, she could take away the sting of a scraped knee,
With a hug she healed your broken heart after your first breakup
She's her kids biggest cheerleader, she's the home's defensive line
She's better than any security system available and the best anti-viral drug money can buy,
She can referee, counsel, coach discipline, train and lecture and what's more she can do all that from the kitchen sink.
She may be like June Cleaver with pearls and an apron, or a spitfire like Debra Baron, but make no mistake there's no more influential person in our lives than our Mom.

Happy Mother's Day, Moms!