Last night I was at my office seeing clients. They left with both of us forgetting about payment. I hurried down the stairs and out the door to catch them, not thinking that it was after 7:00 p.m. when the front door automatically locks. Learning that my clients were planning to pay online, I turned to go in as they asked if they could wait till I was ready to leave, since it was dark. “Oh, no, I will be fine, thanks.” As they backed out and I headed toward the door I realized, “IT IS LOCKED” and then the rest dawned upon me: I am locked out of the building, no phone, no keys to my locked car, my office is open, lights on, my purse, planner, money from clients, it is dark, cold and I have no jacket. Oh yeah, I also need to empty my bladder. I was in a real predicament. My husband was in Elizabeth, about twenty-five minutes away at a meeting. Immediately I began to pray for help, a rescue, as I walked around the entire building looking for lights in windows and an open door. None. I began to pace the parking lot, praying and keeping my body moving to stay warm. Then my bladder began really talking so I went to the dark end of the building, stooped down in the dirt and emptied it. At least one problem was solved. Now, should I walk over to that gas station across a field and a busy intersection and find a phone to call Mick? But then my office would still be open to whomever when the doors unlocked early on the morrow. Then I looked up and saw lights in the office on the level higher than mine. Yes! Thank God! Now I just have to wait until she finishes her session, as she is a Play Therapist. She should be finished by 8:00, about 45 minutes, so God, just help me to stay warm as I wait.
Have you any idea how slowly time goes when you are locked outside at night with no one around, no clock to watch and it is getting colder by the minute? Have you ever imagined what goes on in the mind of someone in that circumstance? What time is it now? Are they going to sleep there tonight? Shall I walk to the gas station? Burt if I do and someone comes down I will miss them. Oh God, please tell Mick to come or send someone with a key, or You miraculously unlock the door. I tried pacing the parking lot again but found I was colder away from the building. I tried messing with the automatic lock to see if I could trigger it to open. Then I tried yelling “Somebody please help me!” a few times to no avail. There was a painted rock by the glass front door so I picked it up and gently. but firmly tapped awhile. Nothing. I kept walking out to see if anything was happening upstairs. What are they doing? Isn’t it eight o’clock yet?
I looked at the van parked out front and for some reason opened the door. A most obnoxious alarm began sounding. At first I was alarmed by the alarm then thought, “Oh, good, this will surely bring someone down.” NOT! Even though the stupid honking of the horn continued for what seemed an eternity. By now, if I weren’t so cold, I would have been laughing at myself for getting me into this. Instead, I was pushing down a could-be panic, mostly due to the cold, and praying all the more. I settled for a bit into just waiting. I can do this. But I was so chilled, once again I considered walking to the gas station before the cold rendered me unable to move. When all of a sudden, it was over. The folks from upstairs came down, opened the door and let me in. It was 8:17. Yes, she had heard the tapping on the door, used her remote to stop the alarm on her van, but chose not to check it out. She was so apologetic. I was grateful it was not a sleepover.
As I warmed myself in my cozy office I realized that through the entire ordeal it had not even occurred to me to be afraid for my safety. This corner is a very public area and right off of the interestarte. The building has been robbed a couple times. I was so absorbed with how to get out of this situation and how cold I would be before it was over, I never even thought I could be in danger.
Looking back today, I am wondering what that was all about. Sometimes we get ourselves into difficult situations without intending to. When we recognize it, we go into a frenzy of activity to get ourselves out. When nothing seems to work, after we have done what we can, we see that we just have to wait for things to play out to bring resolution to the matter. When we look up we can see the lights of hope and provision. Praying is a very good thing in these moments, for our Adonai, the God who sees us, is there to protect, calm, speak words of wisdom and comfort. When we are in the place of peace we can hear Him better. It is also helpful in these times to remember clearly that He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. That even goes for when we do things without thinking. He has our back, always. There are also the unseen angels present. Is that why I wasn’t afraid? Because I was so covered?
Perhaps last night was just to give me another posting for this blog. Her maybe it was to remind me once again of His faithfulness. Hmmmmmm.
As in the last posting, there is much here to ponder that I have not written. Take a few and ask Him what He wants you to receive from this.