Fathers & Children

Almost three years ago I had my first taste of teaching and coaching Carli in how to drive.  I came into the experience confident and self assured.  To be kind I was a poor teaching and even worse coach.  For all my knowledge Carli never thought I was on her side.  It has taken several years for the emotions created during the process to ease.
 
I spent a lot of time reflecting on my failure.  With time the learning process became easier.  I brutally looked at my actions in the light of the person immediately touched.  As I listened to Whitney’s teacher introduce herself on the first lesson, I took notes.  I watched Whitney returning, bubbling with joy at the moments of success, candid in her weaknesses. 
 
When Whitney and I took our first drive together I applied the lessons of yesterday.  Instead of knowing how to communicate I asked.  Instead of being confident in my abilities I acknowledged my weaknesses.  Instead of assuming I understood I listened.
 
Carli’s ability to push back helped.  Watching another teacher in action helped.  Understanding that the model of fathers engaging bringing their children along was centuries old opened me up to the real goal.  Even in matters of state, when “God told Isaiah, ‘Go and meet Ahaz.  Take your son Shear-jashub (A-Remnant-Will-Return) with you.  Meet him south of the city at the end of the aqueduct where it empties into the upper pool on the road to the public laundry.’” (Isaiah 7.3)  The model of fathers working side by side with emerging adults is centuries old.
 
Carli and Whitney are both great drivers.  Their abilities can always improve, yet in many ways they are starting far ahead of where I was at this stage!  There is much more we can share.  The process will not happen by merely passing information and expecting results.  Things work when generations reach out to each other, walk along side for awhile, and then let each other grow into everything they can be.  We are never alone, the Spirit walks besides each.