There once was a ride operator at a local amusement park who would not enforce the park’s line jumping policy. Instead of having line jumpers removed from the park, she would allow anyone who asked to move to the front of the line. When some of the people at the back of the line grumbled that what she was doing wasn’t fair, she said, “What’s complaining getting you? You see how this works. What’s stopping you?”
Secrets of the Story
This story was inspired by my experiences of how God’s Divine Love has worked in my own life. We do not have to wait for anything to happen to ask for God’s Love. We don’t have to wait our turn. We don’t have to be ready. We don’t need anyone’s permission. Actually asking for God’s Love in prayer is the most radically transformative thing we can do in our lives! We can ask for it in any moment at any place we may be in the “Line of Life.” Whenever we receive God’s Love, we are instantly transported to the “front of the line.” God’s Love isn’t fair. God’s Love is a power that is beyond anything that any human mind can conceive or appreciate.
It feels like cheating because we are raised to follow rules, norms, and social conventions before being true to ourselves. God’s Love is beyond all human fabrications and expectations. It is THE Ultimate Power in the Cosmos capable of changing a natural being subject to death into a supernatural immortal being. It is the very essence of God. The Creator of the universe is THE source of Love.
There’s so much more I could say about what this story represents for me, but I will leave you with one more secret. This story is designed to teach people what to do with their lives. The ride operator (God) is basically setting things up so that people will need to keep asking for permission to get to the front of the line (AKA: receive God’s Love) over and over and over again in order to stay at the front of the line. In other words, if you want to stay at the front of the Line of LIFE, you need to ask your Divine Parent for Love constantly! Pray away!
You got me thinking, Bill! And praying!! 🥰💖😘🙏🙏🙏
Yeah! I’ll repeat what I said in class. It’s so nice to read a story where a female is the “good guy” representing God.
Bill, this is a lovely idea; I plan to be one of your ‘regulars.’
I love this little story, that, as Eva says, we only need to ask to get to the front of the line. What a great lesson.
As I thought more about it… it’s so common to experience envious and rivalrous thoughts when we see someone else get something, and also we assume that there are limited resources (only one person can be ‘first’ and you have to suffer first) when, the Truth is, we can all receive ALL we need, through sincere and soulful yearning!!!!! That we must ‘wait in line’ is part of the material world of limited resources, not the larger picture.
I like that the boss-lady says, “…you see how this works….’!
Thank you for your comments! Very insightful! I realized after I wrote this that there are creative ways, even in the context of the story, to make sure that no one is left behind if they don’t want to be!
I like hearing that, ‘no one is left behind if they don’t want to be…’ That’s really revolutionary. Who believes that? It’s only in God’s Love that we cannot be left behind if we don’t want to be. In the world, it’s easy to be left behind.
Eva, thank you for your interpretation of this story! Initially, it was confusing to me, as in the material world it is against social rules to jump the line. I wonder what meaning the children in Wendy’s Sunday School class made of it? It would make a difference if the children were told about Divine Love.
Hi Terry! Thank you for your comments! Just to clarify, the Seekers Sunday School class where I first introduced some of my stories for feedback is an adult class. 🙂 I believe this story could make for an interesting interactive message or skit with adults and/or children where the challenges, distinctions, and possibilities present in the story could be addressed in a dramatic and/or participatory way. I enjoy giving messages this way, where the audience plays different parts in a story so that they can have the experience of being in the story and not only as spectators.
Interesting parable, Bill. What came to mind is that the parable illustrates how God works with the world. The Divine Love gets us to the front of the line, and to be able to legally jump the line, all we have to do is ask!
Thank you so much for your comment, Eva! I really like your interpretation! It’s so nice to be allowed to line jump!
This short parable led to a great discussion in our Seekers Sunday school class last week.☺