I was recently posed an interesting question by my supervisor. He asked me which I thought came first: confidence or competence. My honest response, specific to that context was that I believed that I needed to feel competent, that I had achieved a level or proficiency relative to therapy skills, in order to truly feel confident in my work. This question have revisited me several times since I first heard it last Thursday. And I am still unsure of which is or should be the antecedent to the other in academic and work contexts.
However, I know that my response is rather different in regards to a spiritual context. When it comes to teaching the gospel, I believe that confidence should not only precede competence, but that it is more important. Allow me to explain. I believe that teaching is about helping students learn. And I believe that students learn as they become agents to act for themselves. Teachers don't act on students by teaching at them, by somehow sprinkling them with facts that they then passively imbibe via osmosis. Rather, I believe that good teacher help invite students to be active learners and provide resources, opportunities and experiences to learn for themselves.
And I know some great techniques for active teaching and student engagement. But that isn't why I have confidence. Because real gospel learning isn't just about being an agent. There is another element. And that element is the Spirit, the true teacher. It is the Spirit that carries truth into the heart of those who are actively seeking to receive it. My confidence isn't place in myself or my capacities alone. I have confidence because I know that if I seek the presence of the Spirit in teaching, and recognize that the Spirit is the real teacher, then I know that learning can take place. Competence helps me know how not to get it the way, and it also helps me to be a better instrument. If I were to have to choose between knowledge, competence and teacher training or confidence in the Lord and the power of the Spirit, I would choose the latter.
I love being able to be a part of other people's learning process. I love seeing them learn and understand. And I love being an instrument of the Spirit. When I acknowledge my comparative nothingness in the process, that is when truly great things are able to happen. I hope that I never become so strong and competent that I lean upon my own strength alone. I hope that I don't become so competent that I have confidence in myself and my skills rather than in the Lord.
I hope that I can continually sharpen my skills and learn new ones so that I can be a sharp tool and in tune instrument. And I hope that I can always remember to hearken to the counsels of God, so that my competencies don't end up wasted.
However, I know that my response is rather different in regards to a spiritual context. When it comes to teaching the gospel, I believe that confidence should not only precede competence, but that it is more important. Allow me to explain. I believe that teaching is about helping students learn. And I believe that students learn as they become agents to act for themselves. Teachers don't act on students by teaching at them, by somehow sprinkling them with facts that they then passively imbibe via osmosis. Rather, I believe that good teacher help invite students to be active learners and provide resources, opportunities and experiences to learn for themselves.
And I know some great techniques for active teaching and student engagement. But that isn't why I have confidence. Because real gospel learning isn't just about being an agent. There is another element. And that element is the Spirit, the true teacher. It is the Spirit that carries truth into the heart of those who are actively seeking to receive it. My confidence isn't place in myself or my capacities alone. I have confidence because I know that if I seek the presence of the Spirit in teaching, and recognize that the Spirit is the real teacher, then I know that learning can take place. Competence helps me know how not to get it the way, and it also helps me to be a better instrument. If I were to have to choose between knowledge, competence and teacher training or confidence in the Lord and the power of the Spirit, I would choose the latter.
I love being able to be a part of other people's learning process. I love seeing them learn and understand. And I love being an instrument of the Spirit. When I acknowledge my comparative nothingness in the process, that is when truly great things are able to happen. I hope that I never become so strong and competent that I lean upon my own strength alone. I hope that I don't become so competent that I have confidence in myself and my skills rather than in the Lord.
28 O that cunning aplan of the evil one! O the bvainness, and the frailties, and the cfoolishness of men! When they are dlearned they think they are ewise, and they fhearken not unto the gcounsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their hwisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be alearned is good if they bhearken unto the ccounselsof God.
I hope that I can continually sharpen my skills and learn new ones so that I can be a sharp tool and in tune instrument. And I hope that I can always remember to hearken to the counsels of God, so that my competencies don't end up wasted.
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