He's Bigger Than My Jury Duty Summons: Part 1

"...there should be a parallel between 

our supplications and thanksgivings. 

We ought not to leap in prayer, and limp in praise."

~C.H. Spurgeon

I discovered my mistake as soon as I sat down to complete my paperwork. "Return forms to the court within 5 days," said the instructions. In my initial panic at being called for jury duty, I didn't read carefully, and I didn't return those papers in five days. Here I was, 3 days before my jury dates, and the only way the court was going to see that questionnaire was for me to hand deliver it.

Now I'm a color-in-the-lines kind of girl. I was safety guard in school, and I was the teacher's pet. I follow the rules, and I believe there are consequences if I don't. 

It's Saturday night, and I'm supposed to be preparing for Sunday worship, but instead I'm staring at a jury questionnaire and nursing images of a stern, towering court guard booming the words, "This woman didn't mail in her form, Judge. Oh by the way, she's a homeschooler!" Everyone in court bursts out in evil laughter as the judge orders me to be taken away and locked up. My pleas for mercy fall on deaf ears, and I'm dragged to the dungeon.

My Beloved's mind doesn't work that way. Ok. You messed up. Just tell them. What can they do? You're showing up for duty. Don't lose sleep over it.

But I did. Add my major goof up to concerns about serving for three months while pregnant and dealing with Crohn's disease, and I had the perfect anxiety-producing cocktail.

Me. The woman whose life is one BIG Ebenezer. Yet, in this moment the court seemed bigger than my God. Practical atheism, as wise men of long ago have called it. 

Flash forward to Sunday morning, and my Pastor does what he does every week. He leaves us with a challenge to LIVE what we know to be true, and this week's reminder was: God never forgets us. This was just what I needed to hear, provision #1 in an endless string of mercies that left me in awe, once again, at God's attention to every detail. I wish you could have witnessed it with me firsthand.

The mercies are so many you'll need to grab a cup of tea now or just move on. But I have to list every one. It would be ungrateful for me not to. I'm leaping in praise just like I leaped in prayer, and I have to declare His goodness! As John Flavel, the Puritan writer, says, it is my duty to note "all of God's performances of providence" for me.  

"Vocal praise should be rendered to God as well as mental adoration; others see our mercies, let them also hear our thanks."

~Spurgeon

~My Superman took me in advance to find the court and scout out additional parking. And after all of the frustration I caused him with my excessive worrying, he still blessed me with a steak dinner. :)

~God provided a parking place for my big 'ol van while in court. The underground parking garage with tight spaces and little wiggle room just wasn't going to cut it. $5.00 a day and a brief walk fit me just fine.

~My Superman followed me to court that first day (it was an hour away but on his way to work) to make sure all went well.

~While standing outside of court for the first time, slightly nervous and not knowing what to expect, an angel appeared at my side. Not Gabriel in all of his glory, but Corinne, a grandmother with beautiful wrinkles, graying hair, and small spectacles. She came right up to me and took me under her wings. It's as though her only purpose was to get me through that court entrance, settled down, and then leave. She was medically dismissed just an hour after we were checked in. 

~The court administrator didn't wear a pointy black hat and have a big hairy mole on her chin, nor did she announce to everyone that I failed to submit my form in a timely manner. She cheerfully took it without returning a lecture or an embarrassing admonition. "That's ok. The main thing is that you brought it with you." 

~The court-appointed bathroom breaks worked just fine for me, and even though I wasn't eating very much because I was concerned about my Crohn's, I didn't pass out. (there were moments I thought I was going to...)

~I didn't get picked for either trial the first day of jury duty. (You'll see why that's a blessing later.)

~I was assigned to a KIND judge. How compassionate and patient this man was, treating all of the jury members, even the frustrating ones, with respect. Do you want to know how I learned this wasn't always the case? (I love how God reinforces  what He's doing so there's no doubt about His mercy.) I sat next to a juror during break who had a stern and unrelenting judge when it came to granting excusals. Small business owner? Oh well. How about 45 days in jail to really see how your business would be impacted by your absence? A nursing Mom? No problem. Just go pump in the room next door.

The first day wrapped up late that afternoon. I was so relieved to be done. I left the court praising God for His endless mercies, ready to return the next afternoon.

But the following morning brought a severe Crohn's attack, leaving me eager to see how God was going to work all of this out. 

You've surely finished that cup of tea by now, so I'll share the rest of His mercies in part 2.

With love,

Trisha

***this is not an encouragement to try and be excused from jury duty. If I wasn't dealing with an active case of Crohn's, then I would have gladly served. Crohn's complicates everything. :)