News reports were ablaze this past week of the passing of Lou Reed, a famous singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Reporters complimented Reed as a highly regarded music master, perhaps an elder statesman in the industry. He was famous not for any particular piece of work but instead was famous for pushing the envelope, doing unusual things with his music that other musicians admired and appreciated. He was a musician’s musician.
An evening news commentator talked about an interview someone had with Reed and pointed out that, although he was very famous, he never had a record that sold more than 30,000 copies. When asked how he felt about that, Reed replied his goal was not so much to have a large number of people buy and listen to his music. Instead, his goal was to have each of those 30,000 people go out and start a band! Then he would be happy.
Reed wanted his music to inspire others to push the envelope … try new, different ways of putting the notes together … change how people hear and appreciate music.
That thought resonated with me as a believer and teacher. My goal is not to have the same students continually sit at my feet, absorbing everything I say. Similarly as Reed, my goal is to have them each take what they learned and go do something with it. Much of Reed’s music was appreciated only by other musicians who realized his genius in simply pushing the envelope so that others might believe that they, too, can do the same.
I would be terribly disappointed if my students teach as I teach, think as I think. In a broader sense, however, I do expect them to do as I do. One of my primary goals is to have each realize and mature in their gifts; and, just as KBES is reaching the world differently from other Bible-teaching schools, use those gifts to expand the kingdom like none before you. Then I would be happy.