The Teacher’s Aide

By Lynn Ludwick

“There’s one in every crowd,” so the old saying goes. The “one” I recently encountered posed as personal assistant in a training session. No matter what the instructor said, this person had a comment, an additional bit of wisdom.

I’ve witnessed the self-appointed teacher’s aide in classes I’ve taught and when I’ve been a student. It’s both amusing and annoying. Amusing because though the person attended the class to learn, he thinks he knows more than the instructor. And annoying because it takes from what the teacher needs to teach, and what the class needs to learn.

After this recent observation, a hard reality hit me. I, too, have played the role as a dispenser of wisdom, wanting to help family and friends live their lives well. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with dialoguing or tossing in occasional thoughts, but there is something seriously wrong when I buddy up to “help” an instructor. My pride is at its peak, my arrogance in full stride. I fail to remember that instructors are hired for their expertise. And, my friends and family seem to manage fairly well on their own.

It didn’t take long for my thoughts to segue to times when I’ve attempted to help out God. Give Him some hints on how to solve my problems—or worse, the problems of others, whose faults are so obvious. I used to tell Him how to straighten out my children, though I’ve mostly let that one go. But still, all those other people. If only they would heed my sage advice. After all, I learned so much in the School of Life and the School of Hard Knocks. Why waste the lessons? Ah, but that’s the point. We humans tend to learn best by hands-on experience. Reading grants information, experience grants affirmation. God instructs us in His Word, knowing full well we’ll usually go out and learn things the hard way.

So I learn more lessons in life. The need to remember that God gave me two ears and one mouth and to use each in proper proportion. To seek God’s wisdom before I offer my thoughts to others, and to even consider whether my thoughts would be welcomed or not. “I will guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” Proverbs 4:11 To know when to be a student and when to be a listener. And to be a teacher’s aide only when hired for the position.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Lynn Ludwick writes from Medford, Oregon. lynniegirl45@hotmail.com