If you commute to work, which most of us do, then you likely check in on the traffic patterns on your way to work. Seems like most cities from mid-sized to mega metropolises have at least one radio channel and one television station that gives us the traffic reports every eight to ten minutes. Even the Weather Channel now gives traffic updates. I don’t know anyone who likes a traffic jam. And if someone does tell me that they don’t mind traffic because it gives them time to think, listen to music or an audio book, well, I question their thinking, because I know that given the choice, they would prefer clear sailing back and forth to work. And you can almost tell from their body language and attitude who had a bad morning commute. The aversion to traffic can be so bad that we will go well out of our way, sometimes many miles, to not have to sit still and be at the mercy of others in front of us. I find this understandable because I do it too. I make sure that the first radio station I tune to when I get in my car is KCBS with weather and traffic every ten minutes on the eights. I find all of this curious though, that we will go to great lengths to save time on our commutes but once we are at work, we miss the opportunity to travel the one mile that never has any traffic jams…that being the extra mile. If you want to get more done than you ever imagined, then just follow what can be learned in Matthew 5:41. When we decide to do more than what is asked of us and then we do so, it is likely that we won’t bump into too many others who are there with us. And, we know from experience that we are given more, the more we do and the more we do beyond the expectations put in front of us. Have you gone the extra mile lately? Have you traveled that way to see that there are no traffic jams and very little traffic? Today would be a good day to go out for a test drive and check it out. Remember, others are watching the example by which we live and work. If we choose to take the extra mile, others will follow. That doesn’t mean that you will be creating traffic for yourself, it is just creating good company for everyone!

Reference: Matthew 5:41 (New Living Testament)