Roger Williams in an Elevator connects our culture, freedom, and elevators to the life and legacy of Roger Williams.

Freedom to Worship God

1/29/2016

While researching the life and legacy of Roger Williams, Karen Petit has increased her knowledge about the grace of God. In December 2015 and January 2016, she wrote this poem:

Freedom to Worship God
Our Lord’s so strong, he really could
Just pick us up and make us act
Like perfect people being good
In settings broken or intact.

Instead, we’re free to choose our acts
And free to run on different tracks.
At times, our choices may be wrong,
But prayerful hearts will help us learn
The better paths, both short and long.

Our Lord and Savior’s loving grace
Erases sin and helps us turn
Our feet to run a peaceful track.
If souls and love to Jesus race,
Our ties to Him will stay intact.

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Politics: Debating Freedom

1/22/2016

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Political freedom (or a lack of freedom) is a part of every community.
In Roger Williams in an Elevator, the protagonist, Kate Odyssey, is often trying to help other people. She is not always perceived in a positive way, though, as this scene from the novel illustrates:

                    Freeborn looked up at the ceiling. “So, Kate, does your setting
             above everyone else, up there on the top of the elevator, make you
             act like a king when you tell people what to do?”
                    Kate’s face looked shocked. “I hope not. I think I’m acting
             more like a member of congress or parliament than like a king.”
            (Source: Karen Petit’s Roger Williams in an Elevator, page 188)

More debate about Kate’s role can be found in multiple places in Roger Williams in an Elevator, including on pages 188 through 194.

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Banishment of Roger Williams

1/15/2016

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This photo of the Roger Williams statue in Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island, was taken by Dr. Karen Petit at the beginning of a New England snowstorm. This illustration appears on page 14 of ROGER WILLIAMS IN AN ELEVATOR.

In October 1635, Roger Williams was banished. Then in January 1636, to avoid being arrested, he had to run from his home during a blizzard and had to leave his family behind. “Williams then said that he called his colony by the name of Providence because of ‘God’s merciful providence until me in my distress.’” (Source: quoted from Roger Williams’s “Liberty for the Soul” and included on page 44 of Karen Petit’s book Roger Williams in an Elevator).

Roger Williams’ reaction to his banishment is inspirational, especially during a New England winter. Whenever Karen Petit looks out the window at quickly accumulating snow, she is thankful to be living in a warm home. Whenever she has to shovel snow, she is even more thankful to be able to walk back and forth between the outdoors and her house, where she can enjoy a hot cup of coffee.

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Different Elevator Communities

1/8/2016

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In Roger Williams in an Elevator, people are trapped inside of 8 different elevators:

yelling
accounting
liberty
watery
fiery
falling
sharing
hidden

Each elevator community establishes its own rules and freedoms.
If you were to become trapped in an elevator, what kind of elevator would you prefer?

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Trapped in an Elevator

1/1/2016

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A few years ago, Karen Petit was actually trapped inside of an elevator. This experience was scary because her thoughts became too creative about what could possibly happen. The experience was also positive because of the two great people trapped in the elevator with her; everyone was very helpful to each other.

After about forty-five minutes, a group of wonderful firemen pried open the elevator’s doors. As Karen and her two new friends climbed out of the doors, the firemen helped them to move downwards more than three feet to land on the floor. Karen then realized that her wildly creative ideas about different possibilities could have a positive outcome: a novel showing freedom by making connections between Roger Williams and elevators.

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Freedom to Worship God

Politics: Debating Freedom

Banishment of Roger Williams

Different Elevator Communities

Trapped in an Elevator

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