Trapped in an Elevator with Mike Huckabee

Elevators are those kind of tools that we expect to work every time we get on them. We expect them to take us from the bottom floor to our desired location only interrupted by the occasional stop on an intermediate floor. But then there are times when that which is normally commonplace ceases to be predictable. The elevator stops between floors and will not move and you and all those on board will have to deal with the uncertainty of how and when you will get to your destination. This was my experience on February 6 shared by my wife,brother-in-law,an Hasidic Israeli couple,two other friends, and Mike and Janet Huckabee.
The event capped a day that had already been one of the longest and most memorable of our lives. It started when we got up at 2:00 am to see the live broadcast of Huckabee from the hotel lobby of The Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Tiberias, Israel. Because of the developing story in Cairo of the toppling of the Mubarak government, Gov. Huckabee produced his weekly show live from the hotel. He told us he was going to produce the show live and said it was fine if we wanted to come watch the production although he said,smiling, "I don't know why anyone would want to get up that early but- I have to". Of course it was worth the lack of sleep to see the live production as it was aired from 3-4 a.m. Israeli time (8:00 pm eastern back home). It was amazing to witness the Governor interview experts from around the globe live and give a riveting overview and perspective of the events happening not far from our Israeli location. We went back to bed for a brief 2 or 3 hours until it was time to take a boat out on the Sea of Galilee. It was a beautiful warm and sunny day and we lashed two boats together in the midst of the Sea that Jesus had once walked on and we sang and danced and enjoyed the moment of one of history's greatest sights. Gov. Huckabee gave an inspirational message about Peter, who the Bible records had come to join Jesus on the water but who began to sink when he thought he couldn't do it. Only when Peter looked to Jesus was he able to continue and to do the impossible.
The day continued with a trip to Capernaum and then the Mt. of Beatitudes and on to a baptismal site on the Jordan River but if I continue with those details I'll never get back to the elevator so let me just say: they were sites which inspired and will be forever etched in my mind. The Governor's insights were dynamic and challenging.
We returned to the hotel for dinner followed by an amazing presentation by historian David Barton of Wallbuilders. The evening was yet young and so the musicians from our group got together for a great jam session featuring a world class violinist (who seemed to enjoy Sweet Home Alabama as much as a Sonata in B flat minor), a rocking drummer, a 20 year old phenom on guitar and a couple of worship leaders from the group. It was simply a time of celebration which began with country music and ended in joyful praise.
One would think that was enough excitement for one day as we laughed and hummed our way back to our rooms. But the elevator would provide the final excitement for the day. The elevators in the Leonardo Plaza are fairly small and can accommodate five people comfortably. But it was only a short trip up to our rooms (or so we thought) so the nine of us squeezed on board. The elevator doors dutifully closed and the elevator proceeded just a few inches and stopped. Janet Huckabee was near the control panel and pushed the buttons and alarm bells to notify the hotel that we were stuck. Did they hear us? Would they be able to release us? This day had started at 2:00 a.m and now the question was when would it end?
It was only about 5 minutes or so until the Hotel security arrived and pryed the doors open and we were freed. Though claustrophobic, it was a fitting exclamation to an exhilarating day. If you are going to get stuck in an elevator it might as well be with someone who might be the next President and First Lady of the United States.
There really was no need to panic in the situation. We knew it would only be a matter of time and we would be freed and able to go to our rooms on the upper floors. That reminds me of the current hand wringing and speculation concerning Mike Huckabee's run for the Presidency in 2012. Some pontificate that he is not running because he has not declared yet. For his opponents that would be called "wishful thinking". For journalists, that would be trying to produce a story. But the truth is this: Right now the Governor has a nation wide audience every Saturday and Sunday night on the highest rated weekend cable news show in the nation. He airs on over 600
stations three times daily on ABC radio. All that ends when he declares for President. At that point he will have to pay to get that message out and pay dearly. Sounds to me like he is being financially prudent. Wouldn't that be great to have a financially prudent President? We haven't had that for a while. For myself, I would like to see the Governor jump in now so that I could support his candidacy immediately. I don't like the thought of him missing a single debate where he always shows his strength. But when you think about it, what he is doing makes sense.
To those who are wondering if he will ever officially enter the race,or are thinking "Will he be successful in winning the GOP nomination?" or "Will he defeat President Obama in 2012?" I can only tell you what happened in the elevator. The elevator had a momentary pause and then took Gov. Huckabee right to the top.