The Elevator

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

   but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov 17:22

The human spirit can endure in sickness,
   but a crushed spirit who can bear? – Proverbs 18:14

The tongue has the power of life and death,
   and those who love it will eat its fruit. – Proverbs 18:21

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 16-18; 2 Corinthians 6

He arrived at his office building at 7:59 am; two minutes away from being late to an important meeting.

“Why do I always do this?” he muttered to himself in exasperation as he ran furiously to the elevator; rummaging through his pockets as he reached the turnstile blocking his path to the elevator door. He wrestled the security badge from the deepest recesses of his pocket, placed it on the sensor and finally the green light appeared signaling that he may continue.

The far elevator door to the right was closing as he approached. “Please hold the elevator!” he screamed. But as he reached the elevator the door was nearly shut; yet still open enough to see the scoundrel furiously hitting the “close door” button.

“Damn it”

Resigned to defeat in his race against time he pressed the button to call down another elevator. Almost instantly he heard the familiar chime of another elevator readying itself for the next group of human cargo. Scanning the area in front of him he did not see any open doors so he turned around to look at the elevators on the left and there was one open with a woman’s head peeking out.

He hustled to the elevator and entered.

“Thank you for holding the door for me.”

“You’re welcome” she said sheepishly.

They remained in silence as the elevator sped up to the top of the building. In a few short moments they reached her floor and the doors opened.

“Thank you again for holding the elevator for me. That was really nice of you” he said. “I wish there were more people like you in the world.”

“You’re welcome” she muttered quickly as she shuffled nervously out of the elevator and onto her floor. She walked quietly to her desk in the back corner, unnoticed. As usual no one spoke to her as she passed boisterous cubical gossip and loud conversations about last night’s Lakers game.

She sat down at her desk, turned on her computer and took a deep breath. Then she rummaged in her bag and pulled out a weathered loose leaf notebook and flipped to the last written page. After reading over the tear stained words one more time she drew a large “X” over the entire letter she had written the night before. On the next page she wrote these words.

12/7/10

I met a stranger on the elevator this morning. He noticed me. He told me that he wished there were more people like me in the world.

I am so happy now.

I think I can make it through the day.

She closed the notebook, took another deep breath and exhaled a sigh of relieving peace. She logged into her computer and happily began the day that she never intended to finish.