My blog originates from a Facebook post my friend wrote. He said, “While in seminary, my preacher professor said, ‘I’m not much of a preacher, but I hope to coach you into being good preachers.’” The irony of this statement surely is not lost on me. The same can go for any kind of educational endeavor. Are we to ask the experienced or the educated? I'm also thinking hard these days about commnication and education, as I'm wrapping up a book for my seminary's monograph (HKBTS Church-Culture Series) series on better communication in our modern pulpit.
The Experienced
During my short stint with competitive lifting, I realize some people are just gifted. I’ve seen lifters who do not sleep much, eat junk and still lift a lot and look great. I’m secretly jealous. Many have won multiple titles. They are the experienced … and gifted. They look the part, while I look like ... someone who can shock you into how much I can ACTUALLY lift.
In the gym, it is hard for me to go listen to some guy who is not a great lifter and who looks horrible to give me advice on lifting. I think it is equally hard for students to listen to someone who does not appear to be great in the field. The most attractive person would be the one who can practice what he preaches, so to speak. Is this all there is?
The Educated
I recall watching Freddie Roach train Manny Pacquiao, a multiple world title holder in boxing. Manny is the best pound for pound fighter in boxing. He is exciting, fast and strong. Freddie, on the other hand, used to box also but never even comes close to Manny’s prowess. I bet if they get into the ring to spar, Manny would kill Freddie. Yet, Manny submits under Freddie’s training regimen, day after agonizing day. What is the key?
I think there is hardly anyone who knows how to break down a fight better than Freddie. He has trained some of the world top boxers AND MMA fighters (e.g. Anderson Silva). His record speaks for itself. The key is his ability to read the game and understand intellectually how things work. Freddie is the brain and Manny is the show horse.
Ask the Experienced Or Educated?
This brings us to our topic. Should we ask those who look like they have walked the talk or should we ask those who can break stuff down? Having been in martial arts for a number of years, I have realized that the best teachers are not always the best fighters. Sometimes, people move well because they’re just athletic. The same gifted folks can only train other equally gifted folks. The less gifted remain lost. My own preference is to find out how people got to where they are. Some have done so through hard work and intelligence. Others are just gifted. For the less gifted, they have to break down their own art or craft in order to improve. Some just got to the mediocre stage, like Freddie Roach, but they can break it down for someone else more gifted to arrive at excellence. Sometimes, mediocrity is enough to train someone else to excellence. So, should we ask the experienced or the educated? It depends. I think the best measurement of an educator is how his least gifted student is made better through instruction.
