Benjamin Zander is an English conductor, who is currently the musical director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He is also a marvelous teacher. Search YouTube for some videos where he is teaching teenaged students.
These students probably rehearsed a piece a couple hundred hours. They perform flawlessly for Zander, who always compliments profusely showing empathy and understanding of their work. He then takes the student back over the piece—what if you tried this rhythm here, what if you varied the dynamics at this point. He leads the student to an entirely different feel for the piece. The best examples of teaching I’ve ever seen. Wish I had had a teacher like that.
What if as a spiritual teacher or pastor or leader, we practiced that sort of leadership? Not criticizing someone for their practices or thinking but showing empathy and understanding of their work. And then gently asking what if you tried this or what if you reconsidered your opinion of this writer and tried out this idea or took yourself in your imagination to that small cluster of Jesus-followers in a large room of a house—just suggesting, mind you, trying a slightly different approach. Perhaps leading to a newer and deeper understanding of John, Paul, George, Ringo, er…James and Peter and Luke.
Try it; you’ll like it.
Faith Venture 
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