Elevator Practice
by Cary Branscum
"If any one gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)Cups of cold water. Have you handed any out lately? Has anyone handed a cup of cold water to you lately? God delights more in the little spontaneous acts of discipleship than in all our high, complicated theological prognostications. As long as you believe living "in service" to God involves only vast global majestic efforts, you will fail to grasp the ways each day we have to give cups of cold water.
A cup of cold water is more than just H2O in a dixie cup. A cup of cold water can be a word of encouragement, a prayer, a touch on the shoulder, a simple "I'm sorry," a comment like "You look wonderful today!" or "I'm glad you're here!" It can be buying someone lunch, letting someone else have a parking place, a flower or note to a friend. These are not small things in the impact they can have on someone's day.
A CUP OF COLD WATER IS WHATEVER YOU CAN DO. That's right, folks, we're all different. We have different personalities. Some do certain things better than others. God has equipped us all with ways to give cups of cold water. Maybe you can write notes, make phone calls, or give heartfelt compliments. Maybe you can drive someone to church or the hospital. Maybe you can help in the teacher's workroom at church. There are a million ways to serve, many of which are easily within your talents and God given cabilities to perform.
Here's how it works. A few days ago, I went to visit someone in the hospital recuperating from major surgery. After making the visit, I stood ten minutes waiting for the world's slowest elevator. The hospital was undergoing remodeling and tempers were short among both visitors and staff.
When the door finally opened, I faced about a dozen people -- all tired, all serious looking, and all having waited ten minutes just like I did. I didn't think I'd fit in, but as the door began to shut, several said "come on, we'll make room!" I jumped in just as the door closed and several people gasped "are you okay? The door almost closed on you!" I told them I was fine, my only fear was my big stomach would jam the door and put us over the weight limit. Several tired chuckles rippled through our temporary little elevator community on the way down. I stood jammed at the front, with a steel elevator door about one half inch from my face.
Now here's the deal. I'll be honest with you. I am a funny guy, I can't help it or fix it. I don't try to be funny. I just am. I was funny as a kid kid. It got me in trouble then, and it often keeps me in trouble now. God wired me for humor -- 220 not 110. I remember 97% of all the jokes I hear and they pop out automatically. My mind packs in weird thoughts that come out in humorous ways at odd moments.
As a few chuckles echoed in the car, I said "my grandfather made me stand next to him, for hours facing the living room wall (pause, pause) He called it elevator practice". (That's a joke by Steven Wright) Elevated laughter (no pun intended).
"I had a rough childhood (pause, pause) I was toilet-trained at gunpoint." Louder laughter. (Rodney Dangerfield).
"My folks would play a little joke on me (pause, pause)I'd come home from school and found out they moved. (Dangerfield) General laughter.
"But the worst part, they'd send me out on Halloween (pause, pause) AS IS. (Dangerfield)
The elevator doors opened and I shot down the hall with laughter roaring behind me. That's almost as good as life gets to me. My wife says I don't need friends, or family, just an audience.
Now here's the point: I gave a cup of cold water using the gifts and personality warp God gave me. I did it to help somebody and the best part of it is, it was fun for me. If God ever advertises for a court jester, I'm applying for the job. If God can use someone like me, don't you know, deep down, he can surely, surely use you to give a cup of cold water? (The answer is YES, and don't call me Shirley!)
So join me in finding your own special of way of telling people, "For all you do, this H2O is for you!"
Posted: 08/28/2002
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200208/20020828_practice.htmlCopyright (c) 2002, Cary Branscum <cary@westover.org>. Used by permission.
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