Making my way to the cashier after a tiring day at an overcrowded amusement park, I noticed two queues and joined the shorter one. I began catching conversation snippets from the group in front of me. Huddled together, they debated the wisdom of their potential purchase. As they weighed the pros and cons, they didn’t notice they had moved to the head of the line. 

“Excuse me,” I asked, “but are you in line?”

“Not right now,” they replied. Moving away from the counter, they opened a clear path for me to make my purchase. 

Sweet! 

Only as soon as the cashier began to ring up my item, a clearly peeved and distinct voice declared, “That woman just cut right in front of me!”

Could she be referring to me? Without even turning around, I realized my mistake. I saw two lines, but only one existed. The group debating their purchase had unwittingly given the illusion of a second line. However, both cashiers pulled customers from the same line. Unknowingly, I had absolutely cut in front of the woman who owned the voice.

Anyone who knows me personally also knows I hate line cutting. In fact, my husband has had to talk me down from being the line police on more than one occasion. 

So you can imagine the horror and shame I felt. I wanted to correct my mistake, but the damage was done. My purchase paid for, I slinked away and joined my family.

As we drove away from the park, I reflected on what I could have done. I should have at least tried to find the woman and apologized. But the tone in her voice intimidated me into thinking she wouldn’t have accepted an apology. So I used my fatigue, shame, and sense of overwhelm at the size of the crowd as excuses to not try.

As I continued to reflect, I realized how often I judge other people’s actions (especially strangers) as rude or inconsiderate, before giving them a chance to explain. I know it isn’t always possible to hear the other side of a story, especially in situations like a crowded store in an amusement park.

But I wish this lady had given me the benefit of the doubt, tapped me on the shoulder, and asked, “Excuse me, but did you realize the line starts here?” That would have given me a chance to apologize and self-correct. 

I’ve lived long enough to know this is not an expectation I can put on other people, especially those I don’t know. But it is an expectation I can have of myself.

Jesus taught us:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12 NIV)

This verse, known as the Golden Rule, promises to faithfully guide me in the ways God wants me to live. Since I want to receive the benefit of the doubt from others, I need to extend it to them as well. It is one of the many ways I can honor God.

As I continue down the road, I pray to honor the One who guides me by remembering to treat others the way I want to be treated. Wherever the road leads you, I pray you can do the same.