Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” Luke 10:38-40
Mary was front and center that night, you could not miss her. She was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening intently to the Rabbi from the Galilee. Martha was behind scenes taking care of details, necessary details that were critical to the hospitality that had been offered to their guests. Hosting Jesus for dinner was a roll of the dice, after all you just never knew who he might invite.
Did you know that for every person on the stage of a Broadway play that there are three or more behind the scenes? Their names are not well known, the tasks that they perform garner little attention, and yet without them the “show that must go on” would not be going on at all. I had the privilege in November of going behind the scenes on a very large cruise ship. I was afforded the opportunity to visit the bridge, the navigation room, a massive kitchen that served fifteen thousand meals a day and below the passenger decks there is a city complete with supply rooms, laundry facilities, food and beverage storage, a clinic, a cafeteria for the crew and mighty engines providing propulsion. In this city behind the scenes, countless workers move about on a busy highway as they go about their work making the cruise possible for the passengers above.
There are people behind the scenes of every modern convenience that you enjoy and every meal that you eat. When you turn on a light or fill your car with gas there are unseen people who have made that electricity and fuel available for you. In the great December windstorm of 2025, we were reminded just how much we rely on powerline workers and electrical technicians. But might I ask you, do you know their names, could you identify them?
Every Sunday morning when you arrive at church for the 8:02 service or the 10:34 service, did you know that there were people working behind the scenes? The heat had to be turned on, the coffee was ready by 7 am, the choir began warming up at 7:15 while the Altar Guild set the table for communion. On Saturday our bakers were making treats for you, the bulletin and projections were being finalized, and our cleaning crew cleaned bathrooms and the kitchen. Karl is calmly at the piano writing a masterpiece and I am in my office calling out to God, “I have nothing left to tell these people!”
The next time you pick up a banana at Payless take a moment to think about all the people behind the scenes that made that possible. When you sit down with your morning coffee you might consider the people who made this pleasure available for you. For every ferry worker you see there are dozens more who made your crossing possible. Every paper towel, the shoes on your feet, the shingles on your roof were provided by behind-the-scenes neighbors. Martha was distracted by the considerable details of preparing a meal for her guests. Every day, if we realize it or not, we rely on the Marthas of this world, they serve us in a thousand mostly hidden ways. Our friends and neighbors who serve society “behind the scenes” deserve our appreciation, our gratitude, and our respect.
One beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread, I am your,
Pastor Jim
rvlindus@whidbey.com
