A Reflection by Sr. Nasilele Simushi, OP
Ndola CNCS Hub
Who cleaned this room? It is a question that arises from an observation of a simple act of duty, charity, love and care.
It is a question that brought me to critical thinking and appreciation of what my eyes saw. It carried a deeper sense of detailed observation that seemed to be attributed to a particular individual. It was the kind of work that made me wonder in awe as I eagerly waited to know who was behind the excellent work.
In a way, it reminded me of the question Jesus asked in the Gospel of Luke 8:43–48: “Who touched me?”
A question that made the disciples feel puzzled as to why Jesus would ask such a question amidst a pressing crowd. The disciples seemed not to realise that Jesus had special eyes that went beyond the ordinary. He knew that something unique and extraordinary had just happened. He was prompted to inquire with urgency because He felt it, experienced it and witnessed it. He knew that the gesture of a simple touch was about to give birth to a miracle that had been awaited for twelve years by a suffering woman. A moment of revelation was about to unfold.
This Scripture gives us a beautiful faith-bearing story of the healing of a woman whose condition physicians had failed to manage over years of expert consultations. Jesus did not want to take the moment for granted or lose the opportunity to recognise what had happened. He quickly drew the attention of the people around Him. He did not allow the response of His disciples to distract Him. He simply acted on what He saw beyond the ordinary human eye.
I have related my title to this story because it taught me a similar lesson about noticing what others might easily overlook. Therefore, I will share an experience I had with one of our workers, whom I will call Sepiso.
It was in July 2026 that I decided to go home for a vacation. It was a period in which the weather had become exceedingly cold and windy. A room that was normally cleaned weekly had gone for a four-week period without seeing a broom.
As I was about to return, my community superior requested one of our workers to tidy my room as an act of charity so that I could find it ready for habitation. To the assigned worker, this was simply an act of duty. Little did she know that this ordinary duty would become a source of motivation for her.
The mere act of duty brought out the dignity of work, which creates meaningful service towards the wellbeing of others. This is simply because a clean room creates comfort.
As I entered my room, I immediately noticed how neatly it appeared. My attention was drawn to the exceptionally clean and sparkling floor and the well-arranged table and shelf surfaces. Within a blink of an eye, a question arose in my mind: “Who cleaned this room?”
Rhetorically, I attributed the act to one of the workers who had cleaned my room at the time I was unwell. I had observed her thoroughness in cleaning, so I could immediately think that it was her.
After making an inquiry, I found that I was right.
This brought a smile to my face and a deep sense of gratitude because my knowledge of the individual workers was quite good. When I went to thank her, she equally shared in the joy of being noticed and appreciated for the work she had performed diligently and quietly.
This experience I have shared is something that usually happens in our homes and places of work where we mingle with many people over time. By paying attention to the gifts of individual co-workers, we begin to attribute certain actions to their unique ways of doing things.
We begin to know who is exceptionally organised, meticulous, patient, dependable, caring, who takes initiative and who quietly goes beyond what is expected.
Many of us benefit from the work of cleaners, domestic workers, gardeners, drivers, cooks and other support staff without ever noticing who performs it.
In such cases, some critical questions would be:
- How long have you worked with your workers?
- Are you able to correctly guess who did a particular piece of work without being told?
- How well do you know your workers’ strengths and gifts?
- Do they know that you have noticed their work?
Truth be told, our support staff are an important arm of our homes and institutions. Without them, we cannot be as productive as we currently are. Each member of the workforce contributes uniquely to the best outcome of our projects and to our wellbeing.
Their work may sometimes appear ordinary or insignificant, but it often makes it possible for everyone else to function effectively. This is because a well-kept home or workplace creates order, comfort and dignity.
Therefore, behind the many things we enjoy, there is often someone whose contribution we hardly notice.
As such, appreciation should not be reserved for extraordinary achievements or special occasions such as Labour Day commemorations. Sometimes, the most meaningful appreciation is simply saying:
- “I noticed what you did.”
- “You did that very well.”
- “Thank you for what you do.”
Sometimes, appreciation begins with simply noticing.
Just as Jesus noticed the woman who touched Him in the midst of a pressing crowd, we too can learn to notice the people whose quiet acts of service make a difference in our homes, communities and institutions.
As I end here, there is a pertinent question for each one of us to respond to:
“If one of your workers quietly disappeared tomorrow, what would you realise about the contribution you had taken for granted?”
Learning Points
- Let us be observant and know our workers’ strengths and gifts.
- Let us appreciate them and make them aware that we notice and value their positive contributions.
- It is better to give credit in real time than to wait until someone has moved away or is no more.