Present a case, either in the media or in your own life, in which someone interpreted another uncharitably. what specifically did the first person say? in what way did the other person understand it? what did the person really mean? do you think that the misunderstanding was intentional? what were the consequences of the misunderstanding? how might the situation have been better if the person had practiced the principle of charity? finally, are there areas in which you could do more to understand others favorably? how might you be a wiser person if you did so?

This is a personal case. I needed to travel to have surgery in a different city than mine. This trip would take 3 hours and when I scheduled the surgery time, I was informed that I should arrive at the hospital at 7 am. I had to wake up 3 hours earlier to start the trip and arrive on time.

Well, arriving at the hospital, I went to the reception to get information about what I could do, it was when I was informed by the receptionist that she informed me the wrong time and that my surgery would only happen at 8 pm. I told her that I had come from another city, because she did not call me to notify me of the time change and she said it was not her obligation.

I evaluated this case as a situation with a lack of charity, empathy and professionalism, which made me very sad. If the receptionist had told me the correct time, I could have traveled at a better time and prepared to return home at the right time, which would save time, money and allow me to go to the surgery less stressed.

I have no way of knowing if the receptionist informed me of the wrong time on purpose, but I think she was rude to me on purpose, she could at least have apologized.

As a consequence, I had to spend the whole day in an unknown and alone city. I went to the operating room extremely tired and stressed which could have hurt my situation. Also, I had trouble coming home because of the time I was released.

We must understand the situations that the other person is going through to act with charity, we must put ourselves in the other's place, that way we will treat people wisely, because we will treat them the way we would like to be treated.