THE ELEVATOR RIDE

Life - it’s like an elevator ride.


You get on. Sometimes you go up and sometimes you go down.


Sometimes you end up on the wrong floor. You weren’t thinking or someone misunderstood you and pushed the wrong button.


Life - it’s like an elevator ride.


Some long for the good old days - when there was someone standing there in an uniform ready to serve you - someone to ask with a smile, “What floor!” To push the buttons … To say, “Please step back!” To say, “Ground floor” or “Fifth floor” when they bring you to your floor - and then to say as you exited the elevator, “Have a great day!”


Life - it’s like an elevator ride.


Sometimes you’re all alone.


Sometimes someone says, “Hello!”


Sometimes someone pushes the button for you.


Sometimes there is someone who loves to start a conversation or make a comment.


Sometimes everyone is so - so quiet.


Sometimes you recognize your neighbors.


Life - it’s like an elevator ride.


Sometimes you get stuck. Sometimes it’s stuck.


Sometimes you have to wait.


Sometimes it’s crowded.


Life - it’s like an elevator ride.


Some people leave such a sweet scented perfume - even when they are long gone.


Some people leave a sour odor - and there are no windows to air them out of your life.


Some people - you’ll hardly or never know, they were there.


Life - it’s like an elevator ride.


Some people take the stairs - whenever possible.


Some people make odd comments about those who take the elevator - but the day might come - when they are in a wheel chair - or their legs are failing - and they too will take the elevator. Then they’ll know.


Some people bring you up; some people bring you down.


Life - it’s like an elevator ride.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2012

[This is an image that hit me when I read today’s gospel - for Monday in Holy Week - John 12:1-11. Jesus was invited to a dinner at the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary - and “Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” Open up your Bible. Read John 12: 3. Put your nose to the words. Your nose will still grab the scent.]