Teachable moments don’t always come from where you might expect. You consider time in a class, in a church, in a seminar, reading a book or some other activity as being the prime teachers. I agree, but only to a small degree. The most teachable moments are those in which you are caught off guard and triggered into a moment where self awareness meets a teaching, which may simply be an experience, a thought, a reflection, or any of the things I’ve already listed.

Grandchildren can provide teachable moments. They are unfiltered, responding as human animals to their surroundings in a way that shows their inner emotions and feelings. Tell them “no” and you will see the resistance a person has to being refused. Self awareness can trigger a sudden remembrance of how I deal with not getting my own way. I put a little filtered spin on my actions, but those around me know I’m hiding my frustration, and probably not as well as I think I am. The little people are teaching me about who wants to be first, how not to behave when sharing, only wanting the snack food instead of the main meal, and other lessons I have not yet completely mastered. Embarrassing but needful reminders.

One of their main lessons is about the structure of relationship. They possess little knowledge about life and how it works, yet they make demands as though they have grasped the entire picture. They make me aware about how I treated my parents when I only knew what I wanted, and they knew all the possibilities, problems, and issues related to my request and what it would take to make it happen safely and reasonably. My grandchildren point out that I have acted like I understood the whole picture all my life when I am yet to achieve that wisdom. True wisdom would know that information gathering, discussion, and negotiation are needed with people who are in the true leadership role with the captain’s view of the ship and all its workings and workers.

Having a limited perspective is hard to handle because it is completely challenging to recognize and admit. Being in authority is preferred to being under authority. It is no wonder people find fault with Christians. Being a child isn’t something any of us find to be easy, especially as we grow older and think we’ve outgrown our inner child. I’m sure that the Lord would prefer for us to recognize who the real parent is in our relationship.