Post #170536 by PapeToaTane on Fri, Jul 8, 2005 6:20 PM

Here's my rant entry:

Think God doesn't answer prayer? Check this out.

My luck runs out, and I get jury duty. So, I'm on a panel for this spousal abuse case. I'm as good as gone, right? They always tell me - "wear your full dress cassock - Clergy NEVER get picked to serve on a jury!!" As I had been telling friends all week - it was 10-to-1 against me making it on the actual jury!!

So - here we are this afternoon - and it's getting down to "crunch time" - the end of day two - AND I'M STILL IN THE JURY BOX!! I hate to say this, but I was really beginning to lose interest. It's just not as interesting as watching "Law and Order", that's for bloody sure! They never show this part on the crime drama TV shows!! It's really dull!

Even worse - I'm surrounded by MORONS!! I guess I should be used to humanity after all these years in business and 12+ in the ministry - but - OMG!! There're people sitting in the box, taking up time and YOUR tax-dollars - who speak about 12 words of English - three of them are: "I don't understand".

The court I drew is in Alhambra, CA - which locals will know borders on Monterey Park, and which I believe has more Chinese-speaking people than Hong-freaking-Kong!! The attorneys keep asking these people questions about their understanding of the law - and these poor slobs haven't got a CLUE as to what's going on!! So, I start praying the rosary to keep focused....then it hit me!! Oh, NO!! I'm going to make the cut!! Just based on the fact that English is my native tongue - I'm as good as IN!! Oh no!! I'm going to be "Juror Number 8"!!

The prosecutor has one more peremptory call to make - and so does the defense. I steal a glance at one of the friends I had made (who was paneled, but never got put in the jury-box) - and she just shakes her head and smiles. Her smile says: "You're going to make it, nyaah nyaah nyaah nyaaah nyaaaaah nyaaah!!" I had bet her lunch that I would not get on the jury. I just bowed my head, put my hands together and started to pray!!

"Lord - You KNOW I really don't want to sit through this!!" The judge says to the prosecutor: "The next peremptory challenge belongs to the People". Mr. Prosecutor gets up, and starts to speak:

"Your Honor...."

I start praying....

"Eight!! Eight!!!! EIGHT!!!!!!"

"Please thank and excuse....."

"EIGHT!! 8!!!! Ocho!!!!! Eight!!!!!!" - I'm silently screaming as I pray!

"Juror number...."

"Eight!!!!""EIGHT!!!!"

Yes!!!

"Thank you for your service, Father...please report to the Jury Assembly Room for your completion certificate..."

And thank the Lord (or Tangeroa!) for His continuing to answer prayers - even the small ones!!!!!!

[ Edited by: PapeToaTane 2005-07-08 18:20 ]

[ Edited by: PapeToaTane 2005-07-08 18:21 ]