The Slow Elevator

DAY 8 — “The Slow Elevator”

“Welcome once again. We are in Day 8 of Advent,
and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —
where ordinary moments slow us down
and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.”

“Today’s story comes from a place we all know…
an elevator that refuses to hurry.”

“It was a busy December morning in a crowded office building.
People were rushing everywhere,
arms full of files, phones glued to their ears,
breath short with the weight of deadlines.
A young man pressed the elevator button —
once, twice, then rapidly again and again,
as if tapping it repeatedly would somehow speed it up.
An older janitor sweeping nearby chuckled softly and said,
‘Pressing it ten times won’t make it come faster, son.’
The young man laughed, embarrassed.
Then the janitor added with a gentle wisdom,
‘But don’t worry…
it will still take you up —
just not on your schedule.’
The elevator finally arrived.
And as the young man stepped in,
his rushed heart slowed just a little.”

“Isn’t that just like our lives?
We press the buttons of our hopes
again and again and again —
wanting answers now,
healing now,
clarity now,
change now.
We beg God to hurry
because our hearts grow impatient
when life doesn’t move at our pace.
But Advent teaches us
the holy art of waiting.
God does not rush,
and yet He is never late.
His timing may feel slow,
but it always lifts us
to the place we’re meant to be.
The slow elevator reminds us
that upward movement still happens —
even when it’s not on our timeline.”

“So today, take a quiet moment and ask yourself:
‘Where am I pressing too hard?
What am I trying to rush that God is asking me to trust?’
Let your spirit breathe.
Release the impatient tapping of your heart.
And whisper this prayer:
‘Lord, lift me in Your time…
and teach my soul to wait.’
This is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic.
May patience grow gently within you today.”