Urban Survivalist--A Jury Duty Story

October 10, 2006 - Tuesday                  

Current mood:  grateful

Category: Life

Once upon a time, there was girl who lived in two places at once. Legally, she still lived in the state of Georgia, but literally, she lived in Tennessee. Since she had a few months to change her residency, she put it off. Well, actually she forgot all about having to change her residency, until...

One day the girl received a special letter in the mail that said she was the lucky winner to be drawn for JURY DUTY! That was exciting news at first, but as time passed, and circumstances at work quickly changed, she found herself not quite as enthusiastic. For one thing, it was the week of her 24th birthday. That was kind of a bummer, but she figured she could get over that since birthdays weren't really supposed to be a big deal anymore. The girl's other problem was that it was the last week her boss would be there before the girl was supposed to take her place. This meant missing valuable training time.

However, laying aside her woes, the girl dutifully showed up to duty bright and early Monday morning. To shorten this epic tale, we will summarize the first part of the week with the note that she was "respectfully dismissed" from her first panel inquiry for a meth trial. Tuesday, her birthday, she was miraculously free of jury duty! But Wednesday found her back once again. And once again, she was selected for a panel. This time, she actually was selected for the jury however!

Over the next several hours, as well as the next morning, we heard the dramatic tale unfold of a colorful fellow of interesting mind and character who was living in his own abandoned lot in a shack he'd made for himself amongst the cudzu and garbage. Various paths wound their way around the property to a few other outposts, including a small patch of nine marijuana plants ranging in size from two feet to 10 feet, with the average size being about six feet. Well, though the man seemed harmless, although he had some strange ideas about his supposed secret involvement with the government, the evidence was strong. A bit too strong. It didn't take the jury of 12 very long to deliberate over a table full of bagged marijuana plants, to sadly declare him guilty. The lady next to the girl barely held back the tears when she saw the man's face when the verdict was read by the judge. It was sad to see his expectant face fall.

And yet, what the girl found amazing about the whole encounter with the justice system was that even a guy without much money, without much intelligence, who called himself an "urban survivalist," still was given a fair trial. He had a brilliant mind to represent him in court, who, by all appearances, gave it everything he had to put doubt in the jurors' minds in favor of the defendant. He had a fair and impartial jury to listen with complete attention to all the facts of the case. He got a fair trial simply for being a citizen of the United States, even if he didn't live happily ever after...

Ok, it's me again. One other thing I pondered was the analogy that God is both our Judge and Defender against Satan. And just like in this case, Satan has ALL the evidence he could ever need to throw me the death sentence without a plea. And I, too, have a mind weakened by sin. I look completely crazy to the heavenly realms for what I've done. I have no money to offer--nothing at all. But what I DO have is a Savior Who is willing to take the death sentence that is rightfully handed me with the verdict of "guilty." Why my Defender would want to take my punishment upon Himself will be a mystery to me throughout eternity. i don't deserve it. But My Defender and My Judge both accept it and accept me, and justice and mercy are both satisfied. And in place of my death sentence, I become a citizen of Heaven, and live happily ever after.