It was dark and hot outside. I was tired. We were both ready for this part of the journey to end. Kim asked, “Where are we?” I was unsure, but I knew we were less than an hour away from Atlanta. It was the fall of last year. We flew down to the Atlanta area to witness one of my best friends, Jim Fuhs, get married. I was starting to wonder if the decision to attend the wedding in person was a good one. Doubt crept in.
Each trip comes with challenges
I love to travel. It is one of my lifelong passions. I cannot remember all of the trips I have taken. I do recall the fact that each trip comes with challenges. There are always obstacles. Our flight to Atlanta went as planned, and then the fun started. Our rental car was not available when we arrived. In fact, it looked doubtful we would get a vehicle due to a convention in Atlanta that weekend. The problem was that we needed a car to get to our hotel which was outside the suburbs of the city. We finally obtained a vehicle through Kim’s negotiation skills and were off. It was much later than planned. I was starting to regret the trip.
Why I wrote this billboard
I tend to be lazy on the weekends. Like many men, I enjoy sitting on the couch watching sports. It is not hard for me to waste an entire Saturday in front of the television. But life is meant to be lived, not observed. I wrote this billboard as a reminder that I need to go the extra mile if I am going to experience the best that life has to offer, and that is special moments with friends and family. My favorite memories are spending time with the people I love the most.
My best friend Jim’s wedding was wonderful
The next day, Kim and I went to the wedding. It was fantastic—a beautiful ceremony in a serene setting and a lovely reception. We were able to spend time with the Fuhs family, old friends, and new acquaintances. I even got on the dance floor, which is a rare thing. I was so happy for Jim and Karen. What a special day for them. I am glad that we made the trek down to Georgia. It was well worth our time and money—lifelong memories from a magical night. As the credit card company commercial says, it’s priceless. I would have kicked myself if we skipped it.
Making trips to visit friends
A few weeks later, a few of my college roommates texted me. They wanted me to drive to Charlottesville for the UVA football game against Miami. Once again, this trip would not be convenient. I was well behind on many things. One part of me thought that I should stay home. Luckily, the fun side won, and I drove to UVA for the game. I was able to link up with my college roommates before the game, as well as several fraternity brothers. It was a sunny day, and UVA won the game. Excitement all around.
Some of my best friends live in Charlottesville
Reflecting on that trip, I don’t know why I hesitated. Charlottesville is one of my favorite places in the world. I went to school at UVA and lived there for several years, and Riley was born at UVA Hospital. It has a special place in my heart, and I always have a good time there. Several of my good friends live there. After that game, moving forward, I decided to visit Charlottesville more often. It is well worth the drive.
Going the extra mile for friends
My faith teaches me to go the extra mile for people I don’t like. When I was young, I did not understand what that meant. I thought it was a command to be nice to everyone simply. Now I know that it means more than that. Going the extra mile means taking action and doing things to help others, even when I do not want to. It may be something simple like holding the door for someone. Sometimes, it takes more effort, like helping a neighbor move. Sometimes, it is more demanding, like when I recently shared the story of my divorce with someone in order to help them get through their own. Each time I go the extra mile, I feel better about myself and the world. I wish I had done this more often when I was younger.
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matthew 5:41
How I incorporated this billboard into my life
Nowadays, I am more open to going the extra mile for others, especially friends and family. I am planning to visit Florida this winter to spend time with friends who live there. I just returned from another trip to Charlottesville for a UVA football game. Once again, it was a wonderful time spent with great friends. I hope to make it down there this fall for a few basketball games. After all, we are the current national champions. Wahoowa!!
What about you?
Are you going the extra mile for everyone? More importantly, are you going above and beyond for your friends and family? If so – keep it up. If not, get busy and make it happen. You will never regret it.