What a Week!

When I came in to the office this past Tuesday, the Tuesday Morning Team (headed up by Suzanne Kull) was quickly finishing their preparations for Wednesday’s Largest Table. The timing could not have been better because as they were finishing their work the sewer had just begun to back flow into the kitchen. Little did we know then what a challenge would ensue.

Bonnie quickly called Rescue Rooter and they were able to get a team out to help us about 4:00 p.m. Rescue Rooter called it a night about 10:00 p.m. and came back first thing the next morning, along with the company, PureClean, who we called in to clean and sanitize the kitchen. After both companies had worked for a couple of hours on Wednesday morning it became clear that we would not be able to serve the luncheon in Fellowship Hall that day. The clean up job had become massive and we still had not determined the exact source of the problem.

That Wednesday morning I experienced The Largest Table as I have never experienced it before. Not once did I hear words of frustration or irritation. “Let’s move it outside” one person said. “How great that we planned to have picnic food!” said another. The PureClean team sanitized a path through the kitchen so that we could cart out the food. The work table in the office was set up to prepare our usual dessert smorgasbord. Tables were taken outside and everyone seemed to take delight in the new set up. Two guests took me aside to express their gratitude for the meal taking place in spite of the challenges and uncertainty we were facing. I appreciated their kind remarks, but even as they said them I knew our volunteers had never even considered canceling.

By the end of Wednesday, we realized that we were facing much more than a stopped up drain. By then, Gary Baas, Mike Rangel and David Wolfe were all on board with their own questions, concerns, and expertise. Together, with Dallas from Rescue Rooter, Mike and Gary sought to determine the extent of the problem and the appropriate course of action. It was pretty much a non-stop investigation through Friday morning! As of this writing, we are still waiting on all of the bids but we know that the work is going to be extensive.

This past week’s lectionary reading was the story of Mary and Martha found in the gospel of Luke. Jesus criticizes Martha, who was hard at work in the kitchen, for being “distracted by many things.” Often this story is interpreted to suggest that Mary’s listening and attentiveness were “better” than Martha’s hard work. As I thought about this text and my experience of the people of St. John’s this week, I realized it was not Martha’s actions that Jesus was so concerned about, but rather her being so distracted.

I am especially grateful for the many people at St. John’s who when faced with a challenge are able to set aside differences, focus on the matter at hand, and get to work. Thanks for all you do!