Article May 23, 2005 ISSUE

CIVIC DUTIES CALL FOR SPIRITUAL PLEAS

By Sara Hoagland Hunter

I wasn't in the best of spirits as I headed off to serve on jury duty. The timing of the summons and the lengthy drive to an unfamiliar courthouse seemed inconvenient. Rather than feeling noble for performing a civic duty, I was thinking, "How can I quickly get out of this?"

Disgruntled after maneuvering in an impossibly small parking lot and stepping into a giant mud puddle, I realized I needed to stop being such a grouch. As I crossed the parking lot to the courthouse, I prayed for God to direct my thoughts and my day. At that moment, I caught a glimpse of a court employee leaving his car to enter by a separate door. It suddenly hit me that this day was not about me being inconvenienced. Within that courthouse, right at that moment, were people for whom this day was far weightier than my inconvenience. No doubt there were situations that demanded thoughtful prayer.