Last week (11/02-05/21), I was invited to a jury! Yeah! We’ve all received the notices, and for the most part, we are ecstatic when we don’t get picked. Okay. One time I was asked to serve on a jury at the start of a new job working a Y2K contract. It was a murder trial that had been relocated to our local shoulders. I was seated in the panel for final determination. That interview asked us if we knew of criminals, crime, and had ever been a victim. I kept raising my hand on every issue. Finally, all were dismissed on a break, but yours truly.
Mr. Gurley. You seem to have seen a lot. Yes sir. I’m from Texas, big city there, now in Alaska, big city here, and as a bi-vocational minister/IT Professional, I’ve seen much. Up close. Personal.
Mr. Gurley. Can you be a fair juror? Yes sir… I don’t have the time. New job. Y2K. I just started work last week, and you want me to skip my new duties for a 4-week trial? I don’t have time!
Sir! If you are chosen, you will serve no matter how long it takes!
Truly. I did not have the time. Y2K was not going to wait, and you would be asking me to put everything on hold! Yes. I would still get paid, but I would miss a lot of the Y2K planning, meeting, testing, and execution.
Finally, the defense attorney and his client released me from duty. Hallelujah! Y2K, here I come!
My First Time To Serve (You Know My AGE??!!!)
So, this past week of Jury Duty was a struggle. The courts have only recently opened to a C-19 Pandemic still in progress. They attempted to physically distance all comers and determine how to not do it depending on Zoom technology. The panel is narrowed down from the morning crew and the afternoon crew. Then, at random (they said), our Juror number was called. I became Juror #7.
This was perhaps one time I would have enjoyed serving from home. I’m sort of glad I didn’t. I would have been distracted because I know my world. My fingers would be flying over the keyboard, taking notes, looking for holes and loopholes!
The prosecutor has a story to tell and a picture to paint. The defense attorney’s only job is to give other possible solutions to facts that were in evidence. Both had a job to tell a narrative supported by the facts in evidence and published to the trial notes. Finally, all witnesses were presented, and the closing arguments were given.
Then, suddenly, without all the facts, I was sure, and we were being asked to deliberate the facts presented and judge someone for a crime they have been accused of. As I moved through the trial, I listened to everyone and noted the absence of answers, missing elements from the story, and kept asking myself questions I felt I needed to know to make a decision. I had more questions than the answers provided.
The Judge read the closing instruction to us and gave us a hard copy. 14 pages!
When we began deliberating, I sat among the 12 jurors, just waiting to see how others felt. The verdict crept out of our mouths one after another. Some were quick to define their truth one way or the other. Some struggled with saying what they wanted to say because they did not want to get into an argument with someone else. We agonized over the missing facts, misstatements, and the uncertainty or lack of evidence.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong?
Eventually, we concluded and presented our findings.
Afterwards
When all was said and done, we were offered the opportunity to hang around and talk with the Judge and the attorneys about the case. We could ask questions and give our insights. It was a win-win.
The Judge told us that ours was the most challenging job. Without all the facts, we are asked to weigh the evidence, determine if it was sufficient to convict, and then declare innocence or guilt.
The Judge had a more simple job: Keep the trial on schedule, make sure the law was followed, and then sentence the accused. The court had a weighted scale that took into account the history of the defendant, and the severity of the current crime. From that grid, they could easily define a sentence.
The severity of the crime.
History of previous crimes.
Match the grid from left to right, top to bottom,
and you will come up with the sentence duration.
It was then we learned that the defense attorney was a public defender. It was withheld from us so we would not use that information to consider the defendant any differently.
Both sides of the attorney table (defense and prosecutor) came in and asked about their job, the evidence, what they could have done differently to improve, or for the verdict to go another way.
As with the deliberating season above, some spoke quickly, others slowly, some were opinionated, others were trying to be non-confrontational. In fact, the defense attorney asked poignant questions. “Please, don’t worry. You won’t offend me.”
It made me realize the struggles attorneys have in presenting evidence. Their job is to tell a story and give as much detail as is possible to support their position and roles.
Here’s My Thought
We treasure our rights, freedoms, abilities, possibilities. Yet, we all make mistakes from time to time. For most of us, it’s simply asking for forgiveness as we repent of our wrong, and strive to make life better moving forward.
But, think about it like this.
Unless we are not good treasurers (stewards) of the possibilities, we have within, a day of reckoning will be held. Your story will be unfolded before all, and you may get the opportunity to share with the Lord how you managed to treasure your treasures.
Wait. Jesus talked about this often! The servants received talents to manage while the master was gone. No warning or instructions, but they knew what to do. Treat the “talents” wisely as there will be a day of accounting.
Within, we have a lot of raw material that needs to be managed.
What is your treasure? Are you a good treasurer?
Build On It
I shared something recently that much of what we deal with revolves around others. In other words, it’s not about me. Thinking about this deeper, I realized that before I effectively work with others, I must build up a better “me.”
Jesus lays a framework for our forward progress.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (9) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (17) These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:7-17
We Gloss over this in our attempt to read the Bible through. Next year, I plan to have weekly nuggets of study like – a week-long dive into the meaning of the meaning. Why? I want to be a better Christian. We represent ourselves to everyone around us, and they decide how good of a job we do.
It’s from their perspective others consider you and your job. From parenthood to a coworker. Our spirituality, or perhaps none. Financial acumen or lack thereof. Personality. Politeness. Getting things done or failing miserably. You don’t have to accept another’s viewpoint, but we all know there are challenges faced to get our view into the public so we can make a difference.
Be a difference. As a husband, father, sibling, son, grandpa, and yes, a pastor, I wear many hats that create opportunities. I can shine or fail, and that will be my personal view. Sometimes I forget which hat to wear, what voice to speak in, or which words and style of speech should be utilized.
What I can say is this: Sometimes you fail, other times you shine.
Sitting in a side courtroom, I wondered what kind of witness could I be? What biases do I have that will render a righteous outcome versus what may not be handled correctly, and the results are wrecked. Would some find fault? Could I be rejected? Is there a better person for this case other than I?
Then, I put the correct hat on that defines me and my role. I realized I was a witness to the event. Can I render an honest opinion? Will it be accepted?
Remember what the Judge said about our job? It isn’t easy. No vested interest in the outcome, we are called on to judge actions and are seldom ever given the entire picture.
This Struck Home
From the sidelines we judge, believe we are correct, and others are wrong, but seldom take the time to get to know the “full story”.
The Judge commented on a license plate holder at the courthouse parking.
Democracy is not a Spectator Sport.
You must get involved. I suspect my thought today revolves around the concept of being involved. When we are involved, we are not sitting on the sideline as a crowd chanting and yelling our viewpoint. No. We are in the game of Democracy! Shoulder to shoulder, hand to hand. We are breathing the same air!
Are we spectators? Or are we involved?
I want to define this thought from the perspective of individuals working together for the Body of Christ.
The Church – Being involved takes a sacrifice of time, requires our effort, and works to produce leadership in others. The effectiveness of our leadership – for each other as well as this world we live in. The old saying, “If you think you are leading, and no one is following, you are merely taking a walk.” Sounds like truth. Are we leading within and without? Or, are we merely taking a walk. David wrote:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4 (KJV)
This stopped me as I considered his opening phrase. Yea… I walk, and I will fear no evil. From a personal perspective, my walk is all about me. How will I address the future, what am I prone to do, and it doesn’t matter right here if others know what’s going on.
I’ll be the best “me” that “me” knows how.
Then I considered… I’m not in this alone. People are looking to me or perhaps looking for someone to lead them forward. A coach, mentor, friend… father figure, elder, pastor. As I’ve recently stated, “What we do is not just about us, but others.”
If you are living and doing only for yourself, you are missing the quality of the journey you are walking.