IN YUH FACE by Vernette Superville

What’s stressing you right now? I’m sure before I can say “whoo-sah” you’ve already thought about a handful of things. Maybe it’s work or school or both, a significant other -or lack of…lol

! What about money? Is money stressing you out? I’ve taken to telling people these days that the reason gifts this year will be home-made is because  “I’m working toward my first million”.

That sure beats the - “Alas! Woe is me!” sighs. Or maybe you lost your very precious “flash drive” with your entire collection of priceless photos and articles saved. (It’s an oval shaped gray and blue flash-drive with the letters JOGR on it – if found please contact Vision magazine. – ok so I couldn’t help it I had to…that drive is very precious to me!)

It’s probably unthinkable to stop and take a deep cleansing breath and just let go. I’ve been going and going so much lately, that the energiser bunny eh want nothing with me! A typical day for me starts at 4:45 a.m. and is  ram cram with activities, from gym first thing in the morning to yoga classes late at evening, add full time work and part-time studying while still trying to have quality time with my friends and family and you get a body that is stretched to its limit.

And to top it all off we’re heading into the Christmas season, which studies have shown is probably one of the most stressful times of the year. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that ‘tis the season’ for exams, end of year reports, shopping and a million family obligations, in short, plenty money spending. I’m not 100% sure but I have a feeling that I’m close.

Who has time to breathe when your brain is moving a mile a minute trying to figure out the most efficient way to get everything done? Who has the time to stop and focus on the meaning of the season? Who has the time to truly reflect as is the message of this coming Advent?

All of that came to an end the day I got stuck in the “new and improved” elevator at work. It’s one of those new ones where everything is digital, so the floor numbers appear on a screen. Well just as the screen switched from two to three the lift jerked to a stop and then nothing happened. I waited for the doors to open. Nothing.

I wasn’t panicking yet though. I was confident that this is a new lift, only recently installed so it would open and I would be free. I tried the “open doors” button. Still nothing. So I tried the emergency phone. It was dead! The tiny fluttering started.

You know that fluttering you get in your tummy just before you step out onto a ledge…yeah that kind of fluttering. Thankfully I had my cell phone so I called a co-worker and told him what happened so that he could alert security.

Ok. People knew where I was so I expected to be out of the lift in two minutes…six minutes tops! Ah mean, come on, I’m only on the third floor and people know where I am!

Ten minutes later still nothing, I made another phone call. “Yes security is on the way. Just stay clam and I’ll be out soon.”

Ok cool. That’s great…still stuck in the lift that seemed to be get smaller and smaller.

At that point I sat on the floor. One too many horror movies about runaway lifts toyed with my mind. Another ten minutes went by. I started praying. Yes it took me that long to start. Come on I was in a “new” lift how hard would it be to get me out???

Finally I heard security fiddling with the outer doors…yayee!! I was going to be out soon. Then I heard a dis-embodied voice say, “….hmmph! wheeey saaah!!!”

Ooook, someone was there finally!!! The lift started to move but as soon as that happened power went. PANIC!!! NO POWER!! I’M ALONE!!! I didn’t know where the tears came from but they were streaming down my cheeks. I called my co-worker again, this time he was in a panic.

The lift was going crazy, the doors were trying to open and that’s when I realised that I was suspended between floors. Suddenly the second floor was a dangerous place to be.  I was trying to keep the rising scream inside of my head…inside my head. More PANIC! All I could say was Jesus! Jesus! Help me!

Then just like the disciples in the raging storm all was quiet and the doors opened and I was on the second floor. Power came back and all was well again. I was out of there in a heart beat. But I was still very shaken.

Throughout my ordeal, the work continued. Life went on without me. The thoughts I had at that point were pretty sobering. That’s how it would be the day God decides He has missed me enough and wants me back home. Life will go on. I may be missed and people will mourn BUT life will continue. And so it is with exams, reports that are due and even December 25.

It does not matter how much you stress or worry about getting things done….Guess what?!?! The exam is still going to happen whether you’re prepared. Christmas is going to come despite the fact that you may not have new curtains or a ham!

Life happens. Yes, we have to live and that does mean daily stresses, but putting “things” in perspective should be the gift you give yourself this year. Things may not go as planned and that’s okay. When that happens, stop and pray, meditate or take a deep breath.

Watch a movie, read a book or do some yoga! Whether or not all the shopping's done, Christmas and all the spiritual gifts promised to us will still come. Are you going to be ready for them?