Stuck in the Elevator

My husband got stuck in an elevator today.

On the phone, he told me he was in the parking lot of our building and would be “right up.” As about ten minutes passed, I surmised he was gabbing with some people, because he’s a friendly guy, and that’s what he does. But then the city fire department called me.

“Is this Marianne McDonough?”

“Yes,” My heart went on high alert.

“Your husband is stuck in the elevator, and he asked me to call you so you wouldn’t worry.”

Up to that point, I hadn’t worried, but suddenly my heart sank like an elevator.

“He’s okay, though,” she added..”The team is there helping him. He’ll be all right.”

Phew.

Shortly after that, as I waited in the hallway, he showed up, a little shaken but okay, and firmly determined to avoid the elevator thereafter. The electricity had been out in our building, and he got in the elevator just as it engaged again. Whatever the cause, he has a story to tell, and, oh, how Tom loves to have a story to tell.

When he had entered the elevator, everything seemed fine. The door opened as usual, and the door shut as usual. But then nothing happened. No movement. No more door action. No normal sounds. Just silence. He checked the control panel and noted that he was still on the “P” level. At that point, he started pressing buttons, possibly the way we do with the remote when we can’t get the tv to work right. Ultimately, he wasn’t sure if he pressed the door open button or the door shut button, In any case, it was to no avail. That’s when he tried his cell phone.

But the phone couldn’t connect, so he pressed the emergency button, and here’s the good news. A friendly voice immediately answered. After she asked him for his location, she said, “Are you claustrophobic?’

“No, although my last MRI didn’t go so well.” She must have smiled at that point. “Are you nervous right now?”

“No, now that I’m talking to you, I’m all right.”

Maybe she smiled again.

Within a couple of minutes, he was free. When he told me what happened, I thought of all the times we can feel stuck in life. Maybe it seems like an ordinary day. Our corner of the world’s okay, and we go about our usual business. But then something happens or doesn’t happen, and the whole day changes. We can’t seem to go forward or backward, up, down, or any direction. You know what I mean. We get stuck, and we need help. We try to connect with a friend or relative who’s available and smart, but that may not be the connection we need.

If only we would press the right button, the one with the folded hands reaching upwards, Someone Who’s always there will answer and dispatch one of many resources at His disposal.

One thing’s for sure. As long as we’re talking to Him, we’re going to be all right.