Arrogant And Gentle Teachers

by Sarah

There are some arrogant teachers in this world. I'm not talking about school teachers, but people who believe that the best way to teach is through intimidation, fear and punishment. Their lessons are almost always on the cruel side. I know that they are people who were abused in this same way as children, and this is how they have learned to teach others, but I still do not want to be their students. I heard once that you can understand why a dog who had been abused since puppyhood would want to bite you, but it is still unwise to put your hand anywhere near its teeth.

I'm not saying that I have never been an arrogant teacher, or an ungrateful student, but I am trying my best to learn a better way to teach and to learn.

There are gentle teachers. They teach with wisdom, love and patience. Their kindness creates a ripple effect that encircles their students and branches out to those students' children, grandchildren and on to generations and generations to follow. I have been fortunate enough to have come into contact with quite a few of these kinds of teachers. Some of them write books and make recordings. Some of them are psychically teaching in grocery stores and other public places. I often wonder if they are even conscious of the wonderful influence they have on others.

The best teacher I have come across is God. If I am having a hard time learning something, I pray to God to teach me. I believe that when we pray to God to teach us he connects us to those people, spirits, nature, and other energies that teach us in kind and gentle ways. I have experienced this so many times.

There was a white cat that I had as a child. It just kind of found its way into our home one day. It used to attack me and scratch me so bad that my legs were often bleeding. Eventually, my parents got rid of the cat. When I grew up, I found myself terribly afraid of white cats. Whenever I saw a white cat I would quickly turn and walk the other way. Then I prayed to God and talked to him about my fear of white cats. The next day when I took a walk I saw a white cat. I sat down on the ground and just kind of looked at the cat. The cat came over to me purring and I could feel a feeling of love and gentleness from the cat. It was not afraid of me, and I lost my fear of it. It stayed for awhile and then just walked away. I was no longer afraid of white cats. That white cat did not hurt me.

I had a fear of oriental people. I got this fear from my father. My father's father had fought in the war against the Japanese. My father always said that he didn't mind his sons or daughters marrying people outside of our race, unless they wanted to marry someone who was oriental. We pick up so much from our parents as we grow up. I prayed to God to help me with my fear of oriental people and then soon after I prayed, I came into contact with an oriental person who was one of the most wonderful people I had ever met. I learned so much about their culture and their philosophies from this person. I once again was given a gentle lesson. I was no longer afraid of oriental people. I realized that all races are a gray area. There are safe and unsafe people in all races, religions, and monetary classes. The color of a person's skin has nothing to do with how safe of unsafe they may be.

There are so many other examples, but it would just take too long to write them here.

I remember all of the things I was taught about God in my childhood. Some of the things were good and some were just not true. The God with the white beard frowning, standing on the clouds throwing lightning and condemning people to hell on judgment day is an image of the past for me. I have slowly replaced that image with another one of a kind and loving God who teaches with a gentle hand.

Now, when I am taught something in a punishing and harsh way, I know that the teacher is not God. God would not do that to me. The teacher is usually a very misguided person who has just not yet learned the best way to impart their knowledge onto others. One day they will learn. We all do. We're all in some way learning how to be. In the end, we all get there.

I know that I am not the best teacher or student in the world. I'm still learning that one. I guess that part of my healing and learning is to write this story about arrogant and punishing teachers. I've had many of them. Their lessons stick, but not in a good way.

I pray that God will teach us all what we need to know in this life.

Response from Dr. DeFoore

Thanks for this story, Sarah. Teachers are so important, and it so easy for unhealthy ones to abuse their power. Your story will help others.