Day 14 The Gift Of Going The Extra Mile - March 27

What if we all helped others without expecting anything in return—no reward, no recognition? On the fourteenth day of her pilgrimage, Liz becomes deeply aware of those who go the extra mile. Inspired by their kindness, she commits to expressing gratitude and doing the same. Join her in today’s '5 Minutes in Nature' as she reflects on this generous way of being.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to five minutes in nature with me Liz Scott and you find me on the 14th day of my pilgrimage as I'm walking across England following the energy currents of the Michael and Mary line and today I've been walking with my sister and we started at a place called South Zeal and we're finishing at a place called Castle Drogo and as I walk up the rather grand drive to Castle Drogo you might hear the occasional car go by and this has been a day of visiting spots and places that are on the Mary energy current and we started at a church at South Zeal and we had two other churches Gidley and a place called Throwley as well we went to visit and we also went to a very special ancient stone monument called the Spinster Rock which is a coit I think you call it that q-u-o-i-t spinsters rock and it's it's three very impressive slabs of granite holding up an enormous granite capstone so it looks like a giant three-legged stool but you can walk underneath it it's you know it's a huge huge big undertaking and that's on the the Mary energy current as well and one of the things I've been reflecting on with my sister as we've been walking is the number of people that do things for others that are unnoticed and in the churches some of the churches we go to there's a wicker basket with water and biscuits in with an invitation for pilgrims to help themselves and there's a kind of a sense that that represents somebody's thoughtfulness somebody has gone out of their way and and I feel really touched that people do that and of course all through communities there are people that just go the extra mile without any expectation that they're going to get acknowledgement or payment but they just do it I know somebody who goes and chats to elderly people people that can't get out of their home she goes and sits and have a cup has a cup of tea in a conversation with them and she does that as a volunteer there are many community groups that would not exist had they not been formed by kind-hearted people who just wanted to give back to the world who wanted to support others and it's people like this that form a real web of connection a web of support to others that is unacknowledged often we don't even realize it's been done we just see the evidence of it but don't really understand that that's been somebody's heartfelt loving response to give in that way to fellow human beings who will never know that they've actually gone the extra mile to do that I'm also struck that something like parenting can also fall into that kind of category where you give to your children and support them in ways that they never truly appreciate you become the foundation of their life and they don't realize the importance of the foundation because you're always there you're rock-solid and they don't know anything different and I realize the importance for me to continue to support others sometimes overtly but sometimes just covertly not in a secretive way but just thinking and anticipating the needs of others and seeing if I might be able to contribute in some way that can support them so that's been very much my reflection today on the pilgrimage and I'm loving the space to reflect on these different ideas that come to my mind but it's so important to to look around and see some of the things that we don't acknowledge and even in our hearts just to thank the person that's maybe gone and done something without payment and without any expectation of acknowledgement but there's something about thanking them in a heartfelt way and feeling that gratitude for the care and support of others

Reviews

Liz, this is beautiful and tender.
It is heartwarming that there are so many caring people ‘working behind the scenes’ to bring kindness to others and to abandoned animals.
May you and your sister be blessed in strength on your pilgrimage together.
Thankyou.
🌿🐿️🌷🐿️🌿

It is rewarding for those of us who do volunteer helping others . Thank you for your acknowledgement and reflection 🙏