Coach's Corner

Back to School

September is ‘back to school’ time … and all of the parents said - Weeehooo!! 

There’s something about the fall air that I love - It’s fresh, cool enough to sleep anytime during the day … but it’s what it reminds me of that’s most inspiring.  The fall season reminds me of going back to school and being with friends that I hadn’t seen in almost 10 weeks!  10 weeks was a long time for a kid!  I have to admit it … I miss school a little bit; don’t you?  I think what I loved about school the most was the friendships that I made and the memories my friends and I created together - whether we were bored in class or whether we were tying our friends shoelaces to his chair without him knowing about it.  It was always hilarious to see him try to get up and walk while he dragged his chair down the aisle.

Do you remember your favorite teacher?  What was it that made them your favorite?  Was it their stern way?  Was it all of the detentions they handed out to you or the times they humiliated you in front of your class mates?  No, your favorite teacher was your favorite because you remembered them for their ability to teach and to teach creatively, lovingly and with much grace.  Some people think God is like the students worst nightmare - the teacher who loves to hand out eternal detentions. 

I had a teacher in grade 6 - his name was Mr. Boast.  He was the best teacher I ever had!  He made learning fun.  He had clear boundaries, but he understood grace and rewards too.  He happened to be the coach of our volleyball team and I distinctly remember his generous way.  He would bring a bunch of donuts from Tim Horton’s every game and if we did well as a team … guess what happened?  Yeah, the donuts were dispersed!!  He knew the way to a grade 6 kids head … it was through my stomach (reverse gravity - I never quite figured that out, but it worked every time!) :-)

I think the best teachers are the ones who teach kids relationally and who inspire them to learn and love!  The ones who hand out recognition and reward and constantly catch kids doing the right things!!  I can’t think of a better teacher than Jesus.  He was constantly turning everything towards love and learning.  He believed that human beings can be at their best when they are in relationship with God.  God’s into rewards.  In fact, the Bible says that at the end of our life - this side of heaven - we will be rewarded for how we’ve lived.  Just think - God is big on reward and recognition!!

When I think about God and his desire to teach, he always teaches relationally.  He doesn’t give us a book and ask us to memorize it and repeat it back to him for either a passing or failing grade.  In fact, God wants us to learn from him so that we can become more like him … teaching other people what it means to live life in a productive and inspiring way.  How is your life these days?  Are you living a productive life and does it inspire others?

Going back to school is possible.  God’s classroom is life and he invites each of us to put him in the proper place as ‘lead instructor’.  I think learning from God should be an adventure - one that leads to a life of reward!!

Yours for going back to God’s classroom,

Dave Larmour
Senior Pastor

Posted September 01, 2007