It is Wednesday Wisdom Day at TSJ!
Our twin grandchildren had a Suzuki piano recital on Sunday. They are seven years old and watching their recitals is a reminder of how quickly they are shaped and molded.
And most of it is behind-the-scenes work. Parents and piano teachers put in a lot of work to make sure the kids practice and show progress. Along with that are backstage details to get set up and create the best environment for the event.
Our twins’ parents invite all of the grandparents (even some surrogate grandparents) to a dinner at their home afterwards. So while the recital is going on, sauce is bubbling on the stove for later. The young ones will then be loved, fed, and set free to play, completely surrounded by those who adore them. More behind-the-scenes work.
Come to think of it, most of our parent-shepherding is behind-the-scenes work. It all involves preparation, planning, and practice. It reflects long hours of relationship building …. tending the boo boos of life, saying nite-time prayers, cleaning up messes, teaching manners, delaying gratification, making good choices etc..
It reminds me of a Bible story about a wedding.
It too has taken behind-the-scenes preparation, practice, and planning. But something went wrong with the planning in this story . . .
The Wedding at Cana (from the gospel of John 2:1-12) 
There were some special guests invited to this wedding. Mary got invited, as did Jesus and the disciples. Perhaps it was a relative’s wedding, I do not know.
But there was a problem. They were running out of wine. And guess who noticed? Mary did. She knew this was not a good thing. And she knew exactly who could help out.
So she went to her son and made a simple statement, “They have no wine left.”
Perhaps she said more (most mothers would) but we do not know. Could he have said, “So?” or could she have given him the “mother look?”
What is clear, however, is her beloved Son got the message and . . . protested.
But as mothers often tend to do, she ignored his protest.
She apparently did not argue with him, but simply turned to the servants and authoritatively said, “Do what he tells you to do.”
My guess is the servants (workers) said, “yes, m’am.”
Son man capitulated. He turned to the servants and pointing to six stone water jars, each capable of holding twenty to thirty gallons of water, asked them to fill the jars with water.
Once they were filled, the Son said, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of ceremonies (steward).”
And they did. (But can’t you just imagine the buzz?)
When the steward tasted the water that had turned into wine, and not knowing where it came from (but obviously impressed), he called the bridegroom over and complimented him.
Usually they served the best wine first and the cheap wine later when people were too satiated to care or be discriminating. How did this reverse of normal happen?
Who knew?
Mother knew, then Son knew, and then the servants knew. A flurry of emotions and activity were generated.
No one else had to know. This was behind the scenes. The show went on flawlessly.
Who benefits from behind-the-scenes faithfulness and work?
The world does. We all do.
That story is over two thousand years old, yet we can relate. Each of us will have a different perspective, but it is still reveals the mysteries of life’s dance of the divine with the ordinary.
Sometimes behind-the-scenes work looks messy and chaotic. But when the curtain pulls open and the players take their cues what emerges often inspires the hearts of mankind.
Solomon really liked hearing this story. It reminded him that his mother knew he was destined for great things. He says she was the best mother, the chosen ewe, and she taught him to listen to her but also to do what their shepherd said.
With that kind of care, we all can be set free to play. The sauce is on the stove (or for real sheep the dew is on the grass) and love is in the air.
Playing is the order of the day. You can turn your work into play! Go ahead. This is the voice of wisdom. Solomon says so.