A couple of weeks ago someone expressed worry to me about details that were beneath (in my thoughts) the higher purpose we had gathered with others to fulfill. I smiled and called her “Martha” (not her real name), in reference to the Bible story where Jesus rebukes Martha for asking him to send her sister Mary to help her complete the preparations for their visitors, rather than sitting at his feet learning with the other disciples (Luke 10:38-42). In the story, Jesus said Mary had chosen the better thing. “You are worried about many things,” I said.
My acquaintance smiled back and said, “Perhaps. But they had to eat at some point, and I bet they were glad for Martha’s work, then.”
I had never thought of that.