This year I am coaching my son Gideon’s basketball team. The other night at practice, I was trying to explain to him something I wanted him to learn. Right in the middle of my instruction, he began to walk away. After one of those lovingly stern dad looks, he realized that I was not happy with that choice. I said, “If you are not going to be coachable, I am not going to coach you.†Natural ability can only go so far. This was a battle I picked to fight because I believe strongly that in sports and life, one must always remain coachable.
Not long ago, I saw on Facebook that Bill Cwirla and Bruce Keseman were posting about Doxology. It caught my attention because I am a Doxology graduate. When they first posted, I assumed they were guest speakers at the conference. They both have many years under their belt and are respected among their peers. They both have my respect, Bill from afar as a writer, Higher Things pioneer, and podcaster and Bruce up close as my supervisor at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church when I was doing field work at seminary. As I read on though, I realized that they were not speaking, but were students. They were humble enough to go and learn how to be good pastors after pastoring many years. They were remaining coachable.
It is so easy to think we can in whatever vocation we have do just fine with our natural ability and prior training. But such pride is only an impediment to us truly fulfilling our vocations with faithfulness and excellence.
I know at times I have figuratively walked away from those who just wanted me to learn something. They would have been right to pull me aside and rebuke me. As a pastor, I can always learn more about how to apply the Word in people’s lives, to proclaim God’s law and gospel from the pulpit, to lead the prayers of the Church, etc.
You too, whatever you vocations are, should always remain coachable. Do not let your pride get in the way of your learning.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15 )
