Second Mile

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:41-42 (NIV)

One of my employees missed the call that all of us parents dread. Her son was at school and collapsed from stomach pain. My employee was in a seminar where we were told to silence all cell phones so when the school tried to call her, she did not answer. Finally, her office sent someone to the meeting site to alert her. I was also there and when I found out what had happened, I offered to take her to the school. I knew she would be too upset to drive. I know I would be. So, we jumped into her car and went to her son’s school in another part of town. We got there just in time to see an ambulance leaving and flagged it down to find out that her son was inside. The ambulance driver told us to follow him to the hospital which we did. I dropped my employee off at the ambulance entrance where she was reunited with her son. Then, I went to park her car. After drawing a map of the parking lot and indicating her car’s location, I left it and her keys at the emergency room so she could go home when she was ready. Helpless, I realized that there was nothing more I could do, but pray, so decided to return to my office. The problem was I had no car. I could have called someone to come get me, but was too embarrassed. My office was only fifteen blocks from the hospital. It seemed excessive to have someone drive thirty blocks so I would not have to walk fifteen. So, I took off my suit jacket, hoisted my purse over my shoulder and my legal pad under my arm and started walking across one of our busiest intersections along a main highway. Fortunately, there was a cool breeze, and I actually enjoyed being outside and stretching my legs. I tell all of this not so that you will think I am a wonderful person for helping her, but in order for you to understand the reaction of my colleagues when they discovered my hike. They could not believe I had not called for someone to come and give me a ride. My boss even acted like I was a superhero. To me, it wasn’t such a big deal to walk the few blocks. My mind was more on praying about my employees’ dilemma and her son’s health. It made me start thinking that so often we do not want to be inconvenienced. We will help someone if it fits into our time frame, our agenda. But, if it requires us to go the extra mile, we are reluctant to get involved. Yet, it is in that second mile that we make the difference. It is in the second mile that our love for others clearly shines through. How about you? When was the last time, you went the second mile? Or just fifteen blocks for that matter?