So, Dotsie was absolutely right. Being on Jury Duty was exactly the change I needed. Refocused everything, just getting away from home and being in a totally foreign atmosphere.
Turns out I was selected for a sequestered jury, and had to pack Monday night and be back at court early on Tuesday. It was an attempted murder case, gang members involved, drug dealers, and was a real eye-opener. Real life. Not like t.v. and we were warned of that by the attorneys. It's much more raw. Folks are so messed up.
I'd prayed back when I was called in with the huge group of folks back in January to select days to serve. It was clear that the week of April 20th was the right time. And it was. And even when we went into the jury room to deliberate, we prayed. Joined hands. Amazing. God was there in the spirits of so many of the jurors. Maybe all. And I've made some forever friends. Lock up 14 people (two alternates leave at the end) for hours on end, and you make connections.
And we were taken to a hotel across town to avoid any gang issues. Imagine. And five sheriff's deputies stayed with us the entire time. Walked us to the public bathrooms when we went to dinner, and even stayed up all night in the hallway at the hotel, spelling one another in 2 hour intervals. Way out of my comfort zone. Never felt safer.
* * *
When the prosecutors and defense attorney gave their final arguments they were right in front of us and it was all I could do to not cry. It was all so real. And the family members of the young man on trial were in the crowd, along with 'what-appeared-to-be' young men who could have been trouble. When we were able to leave the building after the verdict was given and get our rides, we were allowed to stay inside until the last minute, and were told the family members, etc. had already left. Still, made me nervous. Looking over your shoulder.
The amusing (but not at the time) part of the whole situation came on Wednesday. One man in his sixties was on the jury. He was bi-polar, obviously medicated, but didn't have a filter on his mouth. He professed to be a believer, would pull out a pocket New Testament and read to himself every so often, but even more often he'd launch into stories and jokes that weren't always appropriate. He had a definite problem. On Wednesday afternoon, after we'd been taken for a brief walk and were back inside, I'd had enough and as we listened to him tell a personal story involving very inappropriate dialogue, I turned to him at the table, and said, "Hey, will you be quiet?" He didn't and I said, "Hey, you need to SHUT UP." Silence. The rest of the time we had to spend together, he'd give me these glances, and when he thought I wasn't listening, he'd talk about 'that woman.' The man had issues. Thankfully he was chosen as an alternate and had to leave before we deliberated. God's hand again.
Some might think my outburst was over the top. None of the other jurors did, though. :) The thing is, I'm tired of folks, especially Christians, taking the silent road---not getting involved. Each woman on that jury had been embarrassed by this man's speech. None of the men addressed the problem. What to do? Continue to allow the disrespect, or deal with it. I'm tired of accepting unacceptable behavior. In my family and in the world. It was time to say so.
Some might think my outburst was over the top. None of the other jurors did, though. :) The thing is, I'm tired of folks, especially Christians, taking the silent road---not getting involved. Each woman on that jury had been embarrassed by this man's speech. None of the men addressed the problem. What to do? Continue to allow the disrespect, or deal with it. I'm tired of accepting unacceptable behavior. In my family and in the world. It was time to say so.
Wouldn't change a thing.
