Do You Walk the Second Mile?

“So you think I’m courageous?” she asked.

“Yes, I do.”

“Perhaps I am. But that’s because I’ve had some of inspiring teachers. I’ll tell you about one of them. Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Standford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Lisa who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old-brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, ‘Yes, I’ll do it if it will save Lisa.’

“As the transfusion progressed, he lay in a bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the colour return to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked in a trembling voice, ‘Will I start to die right away?’

“Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to give her all his blood.

“Yes, I’ve learned courage,” she added, “because I’ve had inspiring teachers.” 

Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior

Dan Millman

The story above really demonstrates the ‘2nd Mile Rule’. At work we often over use the ‘go the extra mile’ cliché and more often than not we only do that when we will not be compromised and it really doesn’t cost us anything to go the extra mile. The true test of character lies in when we are up against it and it is up to us to do something about it. I remember an apt quote that says, “Adversity doesn’t develop character, it reveals character”.

Sometimes our goals and dreams need us to live the 2nd Mile Rule.