Future

Hi, Rob!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

This scripture was explained one day in a spiritual talk by a man named Chuck Swindoll

The Bible that we have access to is one which is necessarily read “in translation” because it’s original form is in three ancient languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. All languages evolve over time, this is why I specify ‘ancient’.

The original word for “way” was a Hebrew word, which can also be translated “bent”, Swindoll pointed out. As in the bend of an archer’s bow. Bow makers looked for and valued wood that had a natural bend in it, and when it is strung, it is pulled against its bend to amplify the spring effect.

So the idea being put across by the writer of Proverbs is that I as a parent come to understand my child’s bent. By discovery, not by imposing on him or her my own idea of what he should become according to your fears, prejudices and ideals.

Take “should” and “ought” out into a field, and shoot them. The translators that produced the English Standard Version obviously didn’t have my disdain for that word! That’s a topic for another day, perhaps, but Maslow explains it really well. Give him a read.

“Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Darby Translation

Certain words carry different connotations for one person, and not for another!

So, back to our word of wisdom from Proverbs.

Perhaps a paraphrase of that verse might be, “help your child understand himself, and teach him according to that…”

I’ll now vault over from the purely theoretical to the actual here. How have I applied this in my life? Or, words what is my experience with this?

My parents brought me to church, taught the bible and prayer at home, sent me to school, summer camp, piano & swimming lessons… all different ways to encourage spiritual, mental, and physical fitness.

I had a paper route, and my first job at age 16, was helping out as a stock boy at the local corner drug store. And my Dad taught me how to budget my money, and pay my bills.

I never became a gifted pianist! I’m not quite Rhythm and tone deaf, but it juts wasn’t a talent area. But swimming! I eventually became a life guard and swim instructor and that also helped me develop my other talent area, being able to work with people.

Years later, when my people skills resulted in being married with 2 children, I didn’t consider sitting around letting others lay my bills as an option, I sat down sigh paper and pencil and figured out how much money I needed per month, what that translates to per hour, and then at our church I spoke up and asked for prayer about getting a better job. One of the fellows in my home group (on Wednesday nights we went to a bible study with a few others from church) mentioned that I should talk over applying to be a bus driver with one of the ushers at Sunday morning services, Mike Dougherty, who just so happened to be the manager of the Poco depot.

Mike told me how to apply, and to phone him once is done so. He said all he could do is phone and tell them to put my application on the top of the pile, but the rest was up to me!

During the interview process I realized how my PR experience had prepared me for this job. I’d also spent time as a teachers assistant, and child psychiatric worker.

My point is, is opted out of the college route…