“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5–6

In the hallways of Adventist Health Glendale hangs a painting by Nathan Greene titled “The Chief of Medical Staff.” In the image, a surgeon is performing an operation, fully focused on the task, while Christ stands behind him, gently guiding the doctor’s hand.

The surgeon and his team do not appear to notice Christ’s presence. Yet from the viewer’s perspective, it is clearly visible that Christ is in full control.

Many patients find comfort in this image and in the quiet assurance that the true “Chief of Medical Staff” remains in charge. The painting expresses a simple but profound hope: that in moments of vulnerability and uncertainty, we are not alone.

In life, we constantly rely on others. When we fly, we entrust our lives to pilots we have never met. When we send our children to school, we place them in the care of teachers we may barely know. In countless ways we place our trust in strangers, often without realizing it. Even when we have our doubts about others, we tend to trust in good faith, believing that Christ stands behind them. Such trust is sacred.

Those who trust and those who are trusted share a responsibility: not to betray the sacred trust that God has allowed between them.

And if, for any reason, we feel failed by others, we must not lose our trust in Christ. For beyond every human, His invisible presence remains.