Teach

I shall teach your ways . . . 

 - From Psalm 51

The 51st Psalm is a joyful ode to God's presence in our lives. The Psalmist describes the good that comes out of a heart that God has inhabited.

If we acted like God, how would we act? We might be described as merciful, just, bold, peaceful, charitable, generous, protective, affirming, watchful.

But the Psalmist goes further, in describing something that would be unusual in the 21st Century. He says that he will "teach" God's ways to the wicked. 

In our times, we conflate people that are not on our side, as wrong, or even, evil. We do not associate with them.

On social media, I have tried, over and over again, to get people to admit that we all just need to listen, more, to each other. I would estimate that about half of the population is opposed to listening to other viewpoints. They might say something like "I do not talk to racists (misogynists, xenophobes, etc.)" 

Teaching is an act of love. You have to listen, to teach. You have to understand your student. A teacher is patient and long-suffering. A teacher is more interested in getting a point across, effectively, than in being right, as soon as possible, as often as possible. 

There is not a lot of that, in today's society.

Psalmist wanted to bring along people, over to His side, and His relationship with the Creator. To him, these people were as "evil" as a suspected Nazi in 2020. But he went anyway. And his goal was to teach.

This means, he got together with them, got to know them, empathized with them . . . 

Listened to them.