dual personalities

As you know I was called for Jury Duty yesterday and, of course, was unduly angst-filled about the whole thing. Well, after pouring over the instructions and figuring out exactly where I needed to go to park etc, I made it down to the designated garage, parked, immediately met another juror and walked up to the county court house with her, made it through security, and found the juror room.

Of course, I was early, and over the next hour, about 140 people trickled in. I felt a little like Neal Page, willing people not to interact with me and I was mostly successful. People can be very triggering with their noisy chip bags but, I have to say, they are mostly civilized, well-meaning and well-behaved. Two groups were called–and it felt like that scene in A Tale of Two Cities where the aristocrats in the dungeon are waiting for their names to be called out–but after about 2 1/2 hours, the rest of us were sent home. Praise the Lord.

I admit, I prayed about this and had concluded that I would try and be positive about the whole thing and look on it as doing my civic duty. This is where God had put me. I would try not to worry about it, and, see, it worked out. Let this be a lesson.

I also wanted to mention that I went to the Lessons & Carols service at my church on Sunday night by myself. The church was packed. I sat between two elders who are new friends of mine. We raised the roof with our singing! I have always loved this old Anglican service, having gone to a school where such a service was the culmination of the fall semester and the opening to Christmas break. All the scripture, all the singing by the choir, the congregation and by smaller ensembles just combine to make a wonderful evening of praise and worship!

Even so, terrible things are happening in the world. This is a good post from an Australian pastor who happened to be in Jerusalem at Christ Church (which I visited in 2018) at the time of the Bondi Hanukkah slaughter. Read the whole thing.

My little problems are little indeed. All we can do is pray.

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
³ You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
⁴ For the yoke of his burden,
    and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵ For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon^[b] his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called^[c]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

(Isaiah 9:2-7)