Elevators

You step in, push a button then the door closes. Within a few seconds the door opens again to reveal a whole new world!

I can hear your gasps and sense your shock of amazement! This wonderful machine has the potential to change all our lives, LOL. Just follow me with this one for a moment.

I work in a multi-floor office building that has a bank of elevators. Last week happened to be one of those busy and stressful weeks. Days that seemed nothing went right and always a new problem to solve. You’ve had them as well I am guessing. I had a few moments one day to make a quick trip downstairs to the Cafeteria to refill my water bottle. As I stepped on the elevator alone and pushed the button, the doors closed and I immediately found myself exhaling. You know one of those long deep breaths that makes you feel like you just let all the stress out with it. For those brief few seconds I was alone, quiet and able to relax. When the door opened I was on a different floor away from the hustle and bustle of my work area. Another few moments to relax.

This whole experience that happens multiple times a day for many of us gave me pause. What if life was really like that? What if we were able to mentally and emotionally “close the door” on problems and challenges and then re-open our hearts and minds to a whole new landscape? A fresh start.

Would be GREAT! but it doesn’t happen that way. We’re human. We process, hold on, carry baggage, get stuck – all the things would not want to have happen to you while riding an elevator.

We all face life events and crisis that takes us weeks, months, and even years to process and move on from. Sometimes we turn to the wrong things or people to try and get that elevator door to close and whisk us away from the problem. Sometimes we haven’t learned what is needed and when the door does open we find that the problem or challenges has simply ridden with us and we face it all over.

While we are all human and face these issues all the time, there is hope. You see Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5 that when we find and accept Christ that we are “New Creatures” and that “all things become new.” A relationship with Christ IS our elevator, able to give us a new perspective. You know something else? He also joins us in that elevator ride so we are not there alone, so that He can talk with us about the issues and it’s not that uncomfortable elevator silence with strangers.

So next time you hop on an elevator and suddenly find yourself transported to a whole new floor, think of how there is hope and help to move you in your life’s journey as well. Oh, and if you are claustrophobic like me, be thankful that the hope He brings never leaves you stuck!