Working behind scenes laudable

confirms that it is the husband who is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
When we watch television, a news bulletin or a good movie we know that it is a culmination of the efforts of many people. The behind the scenes crew consist  of people responsible for production, photography, sound, lighting, design, clothing, make-up, lay-out and many more.
Some of these people we might never know them. They are bunched together and known to the audience as “those behind the scenes” or “the crew behind the scenes”. 
At times their names are run on the screen right at the end of the movie or programme. Usually by that time the audience is ready to leave the movie house.
The people that we see in the movie are perhaps only a quarter of those who helped to put it together.
When you have that sumptuous meal in your favourite restaurant or hotel you do not get to interact with the chef often, if at all. The people that you get to see or meet are the manager and the waiters.
Can you imagine what would happen if all those people wanted to be at the forefront? There would be chaos.
When I was a very young girl I shared with my mother my wish to become a member of the women’s organisation of our church when I grew up.
The women’s organisations are known by different names in different churches such as Mother’s Union, Ruwadzano, Chita and many others.
My mother chuckled and asked me whether I understood what it meant to belong to such an organisation.
Yes, I might have not known much but what my mother did not realise was that she was my role model.
I wanted to be able to serve without making a show of it. Apart from her quiet and gentle nature she was the kind of woman who worked behind the scenes.
She would sweep the church during the week and wash the church linen. Every Sunday the church would be clean but there was never a day when she got acclamation for it. I believe that very few people knew who it was who swept the church.
I also never heard her telling others how challenging the task was or how dirty the church would have been was it not for her. What I recall is she was faithful to her commitment. In my view this can be challenging, especially these days when the world seems to revolve around recognition and publicity.
Think of the times that you wished you could reverse the good you would have done because you were not commended. It is so easy to threaten to quit. I am sure the word “ndozvirega” sounds familiar.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of glorifying self. The other time I heard an evangelist say that there are people even at funerals who overdo things so they can be identified as the close relatives. The manner in which they do whatever they do shifts attention to themselves. Sadly, this defeats the good intentions.
This is also why people want to be recognised when one of their own does something good and often we hear “mwana wangu iyeye” (that is my child). Similarly many go under and do not want to be associated with a person who would have fallen. I have seen wall hangings or posters in homes and offices that read “When hard times fall friends are few” and the opposite is true. There is a desire in people to be known and appreciated.
You know the “ndini/ndisu wacho” kind of mentality or what I call the “me/us syndrome. There is a degree of fulfilment that comes with acknowledgment such that anonymity is a challenge. It is, therefore, not surprising that there are people who want to be known for sending this orphan to school, offered the prayers that saved a marriage or bought everything that was used at the funeral. This is why in different scenarios in life there are people who jostle to be at the forefront regardless of capability. They would want to serve as the “nose” yet they can achieve greatness as the “foot”. Dear reader, I am not saying that being appreciated is wrong. I know giving due recognition can encourage others to follow suit.
I am saying while it is good there are certain instances when that recognition takes away the value of what you do or has been done. For instance, you transform the life of a village girl by sending her to school and then you broadcast that to anyone who cares to listen. Your story will be, had it not been for you she would be nothing. You even go to the extent of describing the state of her underwear when you picked her up. If she fails to sing your praises as much as you expect and she appears to have forgotten your contribution you constantly remind her. It has been said that when acts are done before Man then the reward has already been received.
I believe the many conflicts that bedevil society are a result of pride that tells us we are somebody so this cannot happen to us. The kind of self-assertion that says “ndinombodzi ani (who am I) and handinzwarwo (that won’t happen to me). I learnt about a man who lived 2000 years ago who never wanted to draw attention to himself.
He wanted to point people to the Father. There are instances that he slipped away from a miracle scene and also would urge the recipients of the miracle not to tell anyone. The greatest victory, in my opinion, is the time when he (Jesus) resisted the inducement to fulfil the psychological need for significance, power and achievement while being tempted in the desert.
I wonder how many of us would have resisted the temptation to show the world what we are made of.
It is noble to work behind the scenes. It might appear as if no one notices or knows you are there but one thing for certain; your reward will come in due season.
So my parting short — I encourage you to continue doing good and work as if unto to God.