What is a picture of wisdom born of education meeting wisdom born of experience? The relationship between a new pastor straight from seminary and a longstanding lay leader comes to mind. So does the one between a newly commissioned second lieutenant and a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

U.S. Army Gen. Jim Dubik once told me that the role of the sergeant is a distinguishing mark of the U.S. Army. Freshly graduated second lieutenants supervise sergeants who have 10 to 15 years of experience working in a platoon of 20 to 40 people. Dubik described his first command out of college in which the lead sergeant he supervised was a veteran of four tours in Vietnam. He quickly realized something: Effective lieutenants learn to listen to their sergeants.

My mind went immediately to Mary Lou. In my first week as the pastor of the Mountain Grove Baptist Church – only three weeks following my seminary graduation – Mary Lou rushed in my office. She handed me three handwritten 5x7 pages containing names with ...