Lessons Learned In Jury Duty

I am officially done with jury duty for the week! We finished up at 7:00pm and came to a verdict! It was a criminal case and needless to say, it was hard to come to a conclusion because of the MANY witnesses we heard from and just all the different aspects we had to sort through. Here are a few things I was thankful/reminded of while being a jury member this week.

First of all, as tough as it is to be a member of the jury, really I am so thankful that we live in a country that is free. Many of us kept commenting on even though this can be a pain sometimes, really it’s a duty that we should be willing to do because of the freedom our country offers and has. Just think about that if we did not have the court system we did? I know things seem to get fishy real quickly – but when it comes to a jury board, it’s just a bunch of random people sorting out facts that should have NO bias, and are trying to make a judgment off what the facts solely are.

Second, this week reminded me how important it is to continue to check your values, the decisions you are making daily, and continue to do “self-checks” with the Bible. As a Christian we have the Bible as our standard and the life of Christ. I have many sins in my life that I know that I need to continue to repent of (seems like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Repentance should be a completely putting away of!) – things that I know I continue to do, but these are things I would never have to go to court for because I have not broken the law of the land. This week I have realized that even what some may consider “little” mistakes, can end up with BIG consequences! Little things that some people may think may not even be a big deal and that maybe they wouldn’t even hesitate doing – but in reality, those actions may cause one to go to court because they have, like I said, BIG consequences. All that to say I think it is so important that EACH human continually do a moral/value check on their life. What I do in a given day, am I helping the people around me live to their fullest potential? In a given day in how I live my life, am I EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY, living a life that is in Christ’s footsteps? Even though my “sin” may not end up with me being in court someday, but when the Day of the Lord comes, my sins will be seen in full – do I live my life with that thought in the back of my mind? That I, too, will also have to deal with the consequences of my sin?

Finally, this is a more personal aspect of what I’ve learned, but does my life reflect truth? When people look at my life, can they say that I am a “truthful” person? On some things, do people “wonder” where I stand? Do I live my life in such a way that there is NO question about WHO I serve? I KNOW some of my words don’t reflect a Christ-like attitude sometimes – just ask my husband :)! I KNOW some of my actions don’t reflect a Christ-like attitude because maybe they aren’t done with the right attitude!? I know that I am a sinner saved by grace. And this week just helped me realize how some definitely make poor choices with not even realizing the consequences. But they are JUST as much in need of grace AS I AM. I can sit here and say “oh I would never do that” – but how many other times have I turned my back on what was the right thing to do? I think I have mentioned some of those things before.

All in all, this week I was humbled. Being in a courtroom made me really reflect on my Christian beliefs. And I am humbled because I know without Christ’s sacrifice, I too, would be in a whole heap of trouble! Also humbled because I know one dumb choice could lead me into a whirlwind! That is why I think it is so important to stay in the Word – our roadmap for life – our roadmap on how to live. We have it right in our hands! Now all we need to do is read it 🙂

I am thankful the case is over, but I am also thankful for what God has taught me through it. When I was the second “number” chosen, I knew right then and there that God had me there for a reason – some of those reasons I just listed above. God taught me a LOT and boy do I have a whole lot to learn!