Put Your Elevator on the Outside

Today’s message was written by my friend Roger Kunkel.

There is a true story about a San Francisco hotel that had only one elevator. Soon that elevator couldn’t handle the traffic. When the management began planning for the installation of a new elevator, they realized this would require cutting holes in every floor and making a real mess. “You’ll have to close the hotel for a while,” said the janitor, who had overheard their planning. “Well, we’ll just have to close it then,” replied the engineer. “We can’t survive without another elevator.” The janitor thought for a moment and said, “Do you know what I would do?” “What?” the architect responded rather arrogantly. The janitor replied, “I’d put the elevator on the outside.” The engineer and architect looked at each other and smiled. For the first time in the history of architecture, an elevator was put on the outside of a building. Now, many modern buildings have elevators on the outside.

The greatest need in most complex problems is the need for vision – the ability to see things from a new perspective. Friend of Dial Hope, if you are facing an absolutely unsolvable problem, is there some way to put your elevator on the outside?

Let us pray: Loving God, many people hearing this message or reading this message are finding it difficult to survive the problems they face. Help all of us to experience the grace of your unconditional love and the support of one another. Forgive us for marching to the beat of drummers other than you. Give us vision to put our elevators on the outside. Overwhelmed by our blessings, enable us to make this day a masterpiece… filled with joy, hope, and possibilities that give us goosebumps. In Jesus’ name. Amen.