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.

A Stroll in the Park

For the LORD takes delight in his people;
   he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149:4

Today’s Reading: Psalms 148-150; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

There was a man who was taking his daily stroll through a park. As he started to head home he came upon a homeless man in tatters sitting by the path with a filthy, wrinkled McDonald’s cup in his hand. Their eyes met and the walker dropped a dollar in the cup.

“Thank you” the homeless man said. “I am an angel of the Lord. For your charity I will grant you a wish. Tell me whatever it is that you would like and it will be yours.”

After a moment’s hesitation the man said, “I wish that you bless the lives of those who don’t stop to help you. Bless them with love so that they will be inspired to help the next person they see that touches their heart.”

The homeless man smiled. “Ok, I will do as you wish. But to do so I must bless you. You have shown the love that you chose to give away as a blessing to others. You will be my blessing to the world. Each time you show love to another you will pass along the blessing that you so humbly gave away. What you give will be given unto you. All that you must do is continue to walk in love.”

“But what if I fail? I am not equal to the task. I do not know if I can handle the responsibility. I try, but I do not always love.”

The homeless man responded by saying “you have already been the blessing that you asked for. Do not be afraid to share the love that you shared with me today. And those that you love will do the same. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to have the courage to try.”

And with these last words the homeless man vanished, leaving the blessed man to complete his stroll out of the park and into the rest of his life.