Mercedes Benz has an excellent school for trainees. And with the
automotive world changing leaps and bounds, so much is electric any more, that
sometimes it is easier to hire some one new and train them your ways, rather
than trying to teach an old dog a new trick. Today we will look at the story of
three techs, and their impact on the shop I worked in. Remember you too were
new once...
His name was Hans, and he was young, energetic, and was in the top 10% of
his class we were told. After the interview where he was asked some trick
questions about electronics, aren’t they all, we decided to hire him. His first
day he showed up with his new tool box full of shiny new tools, some tool man
was making his quota on Hans that day. We liked to start new guys out on easy
tasks, to see how they do, and brakes are easy, so Hans was assigned to replace
the front brake pads on a 300E, a job any experienced tech can do in less than
30 minutes. We were busy and lost track of time, and Hans, when the tech next
to him came up to me. An hour had passed, the wheels were on the car, and no
sign of Hans. He was found in the tech’s room, looking at microfische, of how
to replace brake pads. Puzzled we asked if there was a problem, he said no, he
was just looking up how to do it. When quizzed further we discovered he had
done well in class, but had never really worked on a car. Which explained the
shiny tools. He had knowledge, but no experience, which cannot be taught. So
it turned out to be on the job training for him, and for him to find out he
probably wasn’t set out to be a tech, no matter how well he did in school.
Another graduate we hired was Willie, a bright young, black guy with great
charisma. Everyone loved Willie, he too was a top 10%er, and interviewed well.
When we hired him his tools were old and worn, we hoped he had the experience.
The simple jobs we gave him were done well, but slow, quickness comes with
experience. The other techs liked him, but the tech in the bay next to him was
getting frustrated. Willie was always asking him simple questions of how to do
things. So we began to watch, and he was, but not thorough. When the tech
assigned to mentor him told us of bolts not torqued and parts left over, we
talked with him, and he agreed he needed more help. Which we gave him, until a
car left and its front wheel came off-he forgot to torque the bolts holding it
on. And when the school called to check up on him, we found out everyone loved
Willie there too. But he had no talent for being a tech, and because he was a
minority, and the school under pressure to graduate minorities, they pushed him
through. He wasn’t very good at all...and it was unfair to him and us. We gave
him time to study so he wouldn’t damage anything else, and after his
probationary period we let him go. He knew the truth,and was understanding. We
liked Willie, and we wondered what became of him, until one day we heard of a
tech driving a $100,000 S Class off a rack at another dealer. Willie?
Armin was old school, so much in fact he was just school. 39 years in the
same bay, and he refused to work on anything newer than 10 years old. But was
quick, thorough, and dependable on older cars. One morning a woman showed up in
the drive, her AC had quit. He opened her hood, replaced the blower fuse, and
the AC started blowing cold instantly. She was happy until she asked “how
much?” “$20,” he replied. “For just a fuse?” “Yes,” he answered, “but I knew
which one.” And off she went in cold air conditioned comfort.
So you cannot teach experience, you must live it yourself. And all the
schooling in the world is useless until it is applied. And in any world outside
of mechanics it also applies. Including your walk with Christ. We have today
the greatest number of Bible students in history. Men and women who can recite
scripture, take endless notes, who have memorized verses,and know who is who in
the Bible. But something is missing in their life, it is all book based. But
they can be found separated by one thing, how they applied what they were taught
in real life situations. Some seem to grow, and their lives reflect Jesus in
them. In times of trouble they go to Jesus, they never doubt, but trust. Their
relationship goes beyond knowledge, they know the author personally, and it
shows. In times of stress they don’t buckle under, and many a testimony is
made. They don’t know when this test will spring on them, but when it does they
don’t panic, but turn to Jesus. They practice what they have learned, and are a
living example of the gospel. Jesus is real in their lives, and many things are
shown in their actions rather than their words. They prove who Jesus is by
their actions and witness. They are strong Christians, because they are strong
in Christ. Not education. The application of their education is their
trademark, and they encourage others to follow.
But the other group continue to sit in church, class, and to never get out
and show what they know. They are the ones that when trials come fail. They
are emotionally upset, anxious, and fear ridden. They have the head but not the
heart of God, and it shows. Pews are filled with them, and they can become a
liability to a ministry. They do not practice what they hear, while the others
practice the truth and immediately grow in Christ. They are the ones with
overfilled Bibles with notes, whose seat of their pants is worn out, but never
the soles of their shoes. Today I am grateful to be out practicing what Jesus
has taught me. To operate in the spirit, where life is happening, and miracles
occur. Some are solution, some remain the problem. And some after many years
still think an epistle is the wife of an apostle. Says so in their notes.
Check your shoes, are they shiny from walking on carpet, or worn from being out
on the street ministering?
An old saying says “those that can’t teach.” But I find those that can’t
study. And never apply what they know. They never fix anything, and soon fade
away. To them Jesus appears in print, just not in their lives, and when trouble
hits they go under. Sadly it doesn’t have to be that way...so ask God to direct
you past your book learning,and into experiencing him first hand. Real life.
When turmoil comes, rest in his arms, not on your knowledge. Be the one who
knows the difference between knowledge and wisdom, who knows that although a
tomato is a fruit, you don’t put it in your fruit salad. Get to know Jesus as
real, and watch as the words you memorized have life. And as the spirit reveals
the truth about Jesus, you want to get out and serve him more. Grow in grace,
not in knowledge.
Finally, how important is an education? What do you call the person who
graduates last in his medical class? DOCTOR! The same diploma, the same
education, but what a difference. Let Jesus make a difference in your life, and
when your AC quits blowing, know which fuse to replace. Put into practice what
you have learned, be the one who can truly testify how Jesus Christ changed
their lives. And if needed, offer words. Now that is how to witness, and be a
witness. Those that don’t, study. Application of your education. Which will
really tell us who Jesus is in your life. Class dismissed.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com