4 Things I Learned from Jury Duty

Yesterday I reported for jury duty for the first time in my adult life. I heard horror stories from those whom had gone to juries before - 3 week trials, waiting hours to only be sent home, on and on. I went and spent about four hours in a waiting room only to be sent home, and I was okay with that. During my four hours, other than reading a really interesting book I had a few thoughts that I'd like to share.

1. When we are doing something we don't want to do (like waiting in an airport-screening style line with 100 other people) the most spiritual thing we can do is to learn to be content with it. If we are there, then God is there and no time with Him is wasted. You have been given time to spend reading or quiet or learning to deal with adverse circumstances - this is where the grace of God can erupt within us.

2. TV has deeply impacted my view of the judicial system. I couldn't stop hearing the "bong-bong" of Law & Order (choose your version) the whole time I was sitting there. I really believe people felt that Sam Waterson would soon be presenting them with his opening arguments.

3. People want to seem ambiguous or against being present for jury duty, but deep inside they want to be part of dispensing some justice. It's a spiritually destructive thing to want to exercise judgment on someone else, especially when it comes from a place where we are "getting even" for something that's happened to us. We love grace, but we love it primarily when it is given to us.

4. Jury holding areas may be the only place where people will agree to watch The View. I'm convinced of this.

What have you learned from jury duty?