Have I told you about the excellent hike we went on recently? The multiday overnight adventure? Well, recently on our Great Ocean Walk adventure (this one time, at band camp…) I saw many incredible things. Views that take your breath away. Constantly changing landscapes and environments, every one of them drawing gasps of wonder from us. The horizon. And, quiet and unassuming, one of those generous demonstrations of kindness that are the reminder I needed that humanity is precious, and it’s all around us.
I would love to share this with you a fellow flamingo had said. But I can’t walk the distance. A longstanding injury precluded her from climbing those interminable hills. Hiking’s not for everyone, we acknowledged. Camping is an acquired taste. And wearing the same clothes for five days in a row is a particular kind of endurance that those of us privileged to live our days within reach of a shower may have never confronted. Pulling on that aromatic shirt again is not for the faint hearted. I shook my head in sympathy and continued planning without, I’m ashamed to say, a second thought.
But not this flamingo. She knew of other ways to participate and her definition is wide enough to include service. As we weighed our gear and reviewed the maps and worked *Sammy dived into hike planning of another sort. By the time we stepped out onto the trail she, too, was setting out and driving to that exquisite south coast. At the end of day 2 we stumbled into camp and were greeted by… a feast.
She couldn’t take on the trail but she COULD be there to make sure our experience was as good as she could make it. She drove nearly four hours and slept in the back of her car so that she could be there with water and treats and encouragement. She’d thought of everything. A hot meal. Sweet treats. Real coffee. A place to charge our power banks and phones. Painkillers. A shower tent and, hiker’s dream, a foot bath, should we be so inclined.
Oh, the humanity!
Our very own trail angel fed us and followed us and was there with a bottle of wine and chocolate and fresh fruit and music right at the moment when we thought we were going to cry with exhaustion. Our *Sammy is not one to boast of her incredible act. She’ll tell you she, too, had an amazing holiday at the beach. She spent many blissfully uninterrupted hours in camp reading a book and resting and seeing the sights. She took walks along the beach and explored the coast. Oh, no, I had just as much fun as you did! There’s no question, she truly did.
But you will appreciate how important to us it was that she walk the last leg of that trek. She stepped into the visitors centre at the Twelve Apostles with us as a triumphant GOW hiker.
The news tells of devastation every where I look. Climate crisis. Humanitarian crises. Political shame. In a world where it feels like decency and understanding have been forgotten and individuals matter more than the group, it’s too easy to miss all the demonstrations of virtue happening all around. And there are so many of them! I don’t want to miss them anymore. Like our trail angel, there are people everywhere making big and small acts of service to others with no need or expectation of recognition.
I made an effort to watch for all the moments of loveliness that are still happening every single day. What started as an exercise in redeeming humanity for myself was the breath of fresh air I hadn’t known I needed and I knew I had to share it with you.
It’s not about the size of the act nor the financial cost. It’s certainly not about the glory. These people ask nothing in return for their acts of kindness. They’re just doing what they know to be right. That’s a virtue right there.
And speaking of amazing – isn’t the photo at the top of this post just incredible? The art is by 13 year old Anna Rozen (Slovenia). She says of this piece: “My drawing represents the land that binds us and unites us.” Humans are woven together. If someone gives up, others fall. We are all connected to our planet and to each other, but unfortunately we are little aware of it. We are woven together. Other people weave alongside me my own story; and I weave theirs,” said the young designer.
We are woven together. We are connected. Remember this. Sometimes humanity is making sure lucky hikers have lasagna to eat at the end of the day. Sometimes is looks like cleaning away graffiti before it can be seen and cause hurt. And at others it’s donating time or resources or dignity. There really is an endless collection of what humanity can and does look like. What have you seen or done lately that reminds you there is goodness in the world? Share so we can all feel that joy!!!
VIRTUE – Moral excellence; rectitude; merit; a good quality
*Sammy is obviously a pseudonym for a notoriously private angel. Let’s just agree that she’s amazing!