There’s so much to be learned by every-day, ordinary, living-life kinds of experiences.
For example, most young humans learn to speak because other people speak to them, not because of a class on linguistics. And you and I more than likely learned to cook from watching grandma, not from a culinary master class. And the crucial lessons about business and finance and home economics, are lessons I learned watching over my dad’s shoulder as he did “paperwork” at home in the evening, or as my mom wrote checks and paid the bills.
These are the things that came to mind when, while casually watching the documentary Freakonomics a couple weeks ago, I heard the line, “You can teach a child as much at the grocery store as you can at the museum.”
It’s true. The museum deals in the primary theoretical and historical. But the grocery store, and the garage, and the kitchen table… they deal primarily in the practical, real-life sorts of things that every kid (and many adults) needs to learn.
Perhaps, I’ve been thinking lately, it’s the same in business and ministry.
With my most recent seminary class under my belt, I have to wonder if I’ve learned as much about what the Bible says and how to study it from watching others study and teach, as I did from a class on how to study the Bible. What is theoretical in a class on hermeneutics, is immensely practical gathered around a table doing a small group Bible study with a guy (and I’m reminded of my old friend Dan Kiernen) who has worn out more Bibles in his life from use than I’ve ever owned.
And I suppose we can see the same thing at work. There is so much value in modeling, and leading transparently, and inviting others along to see what it looks like to do the job right. We can tell and teach to exhaustion, but they are often only exercises in the theoretical.
So, today, whether you’re a parent or a preacher or the boss, consider a trip to the store, instead of a day at the museum. You might just teach something.
What do you think? Where have you learned your most valuable (practical) life lessons?