Going the Extra Mile

How much time do you have?

Our busy schedules today rarely provide time to be flexible. We are hardly ever spontaneous or deviate from the agendas we set for ourselves and others. Yet giving our time, or rather giving up our time can be one of the most impactful things we can do to make a difference in the world.

I was commuting home on the train one evening and while talking with the man standing next to me I learned that he was from out of town. He had no idea how he was going to get from the train station to his hotel. He thought he would be able to take a bus. But I knew that where he was going would take perhaps two more hours of commute time. So my heart was prompted to say, "Would you like a ride?"

Such promptings seem rare, but when I truly listen to my heart and the needs around me, they are surprisingly frequent. I just don't act on them as often as I would like.

Yeah, my extra trip to the hotel that day took an additional 40 minutes, but it made a difference. We talked about stuff, we talked about life, we wished each other well. Yet I think the biggest difference that act of kindness had was on me and my ability to act in response to future promptings to take time out of my all-important busy schedule and to go the extra mile for others along the way.

Against such things there is no law...