That is what I was thinking as I waited to enter the courtroom on Monday morning after being called in for a jury summons.

First there was the waiting. We were supposed to be there at 8:30 a.m, but because there were inconsiderate people showing up at 9 or 9:15 am, we were delayed being called so they could see the short video and appear before the judge if they needed to be excused.

Then, there was the computer glitch. After several names were called (mine name was missing from those) and people were told to wait to be ushered by the bailiff into the courtroom, the lady calling the names noticed that people were missing and realized that the computer had run names of people that had not been summoned.

After running the list again, my name was among the first (#39 out of 70) that was called. We stood outside the main jury room (feeling like cattle being herded to the slaughterhouse) while we noticed a group of people being let go from the main room and heading to their cars. At first, jealousy rose up in a few of us as we looked at those that we assumed had been dismissed. One lady, after dodging the daggers coming from our eyes, stated that she, along with the rest of that group, had to come back on Thursday. I guess at least we were going to get it over with in one day unless we were among the “lucky” 12 chosen on the jury. A second group left the main jury room and also noted that they had to come back the next day. Finally, the masses left with the knowledge that they were dismissed for the day, but since they didn’t make it to a courtroom, they could still be called at another time to serve.

We were then called into the courtroom, one-by-one, starting with number one. Inside, we were told that this was a criminal case and, gulp, was a case of aggravated sexual assault against a child. I almost threw up!

But as the instructions by the judge, questions by the prosecutors and defense attorneys, and responses by my fellow jury pool members ran its course, it became clear to me that this would not be just an open and shut case. A “he said/she said” that might involve a spouse/girlfriend accusing a spouse/boyfriend of something to get back at them or to “make them pay.”

It wasn’t until the prosecution said something that I realized the defendant, a very young man, was sitting in the courtroom with us! That is when I began to pray “Lord, let the truth come to light.”

I was not chosen (as the lawyers said, I was out of the “splash zone” for being chosen), but as I left the courthouse, I realized that these types of trials go on daily and that the process of being chosen is not something that I should take lightly. It also makes me ask God to reveal the truth in these cases because as one jury pool member pointed out (she was in prison ministry) there were many innocent people behind bars. It also made me realize the prejudices against people that are even accused as one jury pool member (who was not chosen) stated “well he must be guilty if he is here,” not taking into consideration the fact that the law says we are “innocent until proven guilty.”

I know this has been a long post, but this was indeed a life changing experience for me and if I hadn’t been so busy at work, I would have been honored to be chosen because I know that I was praying for discernment for truth. We all need to pray that the truth be revealed in all situations.