Yesterday I shared my difficulty of seeing something fairly apparent in last week’s Wall Street Journal Friday crossword contest. In addition to yesterday’s application of our potential to miss important things that are right in front of us, there’s an implication for teachers.

We have a saying in the Soifer Mathematical Olympiad, which I have written about before.

The solution is easy to see, especially right after you’ve seen it.

But before you see it, it might not be so easy to see! Just like my volcanos yesterday. It’s right there in front of you! Can’t you see it?

The same is true when we’re discipling someone. What’s perfectly obvious to us may not be so obvious to the new disciple. For example, a lot of Navigator materials pose the question: “How many generations of disciples are in 2 Timothy 2.2?”

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (NIV)

I have learned that a lot of people have trouble with that question. And I am learning (I hope!) to be patient with them. (By the way, the answer “they” are looking for is there are four generations of disciples in 2 Timothy 2.2: Paul (“me”) -> Timothy (“you”) -> “reliable people” -> “others.”

Again, the main point today is that what’s obvious to some people is not that obvious to others. A teacher must be patient!

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5.14, ESV)

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. (2 Timothy 2.24, 25, NKJV)

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth. (Isaiah 42.1 – 4, ESV)