Some times God “benches” us in the craziest times to force us to rest. Often he uses illness or family issues to do this important thing. This last week I was exposed to a new way, Jury Duty.

The last couple of weeks have been very hectic. Our DFW team has really been pouring much time into preparing for the three night, three location Aradhna concert (http://aradhna.isidfw.com), we have been working on developing new international student ministry strategies for the DFW area and in Arlington and TCU, we have been preparing for the coming of students. (not to mention the other campuses – UTD, SMU, Northlake, UNT, Collin College, University of Dallas, UT Tyler) Last I checked our UTA Big Howdy team (www.utabighowdy.com – which includes ISI and from 10-20 other campus and community ministry organizations around UTA including BSM, Lutheran Center, Cornerstone etc.) picked up over 160 international students from the airport, took around 70 student to Walmart welcomed nearly 500 new students a orientation events and made quite a few meaningful connections. The bulk of Big Howdy is still ahead with the Used Item sale this Saturday and the approximately 450 attender Big Howdy Party on the 29th, the rides around Arlington on the 7th (already 50 sign ups) and the Aradhna concert on the 19th where we expect 350-400 students. Of course this all wouldn’t be possible without our incredible and dedicated team of volunteers and staff. At UTA, Ron leads our Howdy team of approximately 150-200 volunteers. It is a generally crazy time and God is blessing us in so many ways.

Back to Jury Duty… I got my notice in the mail several weeks ago and noted that it was during this crazy time. Thankfully it was at municipal court and I figured the cases are relatively short (it’s really traffic court). As it got closer and closer, I was feeling more frantic about being able to make the time to go. Still, to be able to finish out jury duty with one day of service (likely sitting around and waiting) and to not have to serve again for a while was very inviting. Anyway, I decided to go with an attitude of rest. This was a day off from the frantic daily requirements of life;  a time when “I could legitimately say, I can’t do it… I am serving my country.” I was going to take a good book, my facebook app on my phone and just relax.

When I got there, after standing in line for a while, I found out I couldn’t go into the court building with my mini-Swiss army knife on my keys. Back to the car… back to the back of the line… “I’m taking a day of rest.” I sat in the waiting room. I get an e-mail about Aradhna and something I have to do… I’m taking a day of rest… We are taken to the court room to be picked… We find out they just handle 30 minutes to 2 hour traffic (mostly speeding) cases. This time I want to be picked… I can go home quicker and I can honestly say I served on a jury in the last 2 years when asked next time. First jury… No… “I’m taking a day of rest… relax” Second Jury… YES! I am picked… but we have to go up to the 9th floor to wait for our turn for the second case.

The eighth floor was nice. In a city with few multistory buildings 8 stories gives you a birds eye view. What an incredible view. We could see all the way to Dallas, Six Flags, and the Ballpark and the beautiful new Cowboy stadium and its oblong shape is front and center. But we had to wait… and wait… 1-2 hours… “I am taking a day of rest…” It really was nice talking to one of the other juror, reading a book about family, having fun with Facebook. By the end of the time, I really did feel rested.

The case was relatively short, cut and dried. The defendant was trying to be “Denny Crane” on Boston Legal but no one bothered to tell him he was in traffic court and really, in real court… Boston Legal would not cut it. Actually in contrast to the obviously new, just-out-of-law-school but professional Assistant DA, his case really felt like a grown up version of “My dog ate my homework” with little substance but much passion. Anyway… I’m not going to let it bother me because “I’m taking a day of rest…”

And what a day of rest it was… Thank you Lord of traffic court…