Jury Duty

Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” – Acts 9:4-5 (NRSV)

At twenty-two, I had never been summoned for jury duty, but I had a feeling it was bad form to be late. And I was.

I got off the train, sprinted up the escalator and dashed through a turnstile when a voice boomed, “HEY! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”

I turned and faced a young man about my age.

“You didn’t see her, did you?” he said.

I was confused and uninterested in conversation. I was late for jury duty!

He shook his head with disgust. “You didn’t even see her.” I had no clue what he was talking about. “You knocked her over!” he added.

On the other side of the turnstile a group of people helped a woman to her feet. She was unlike me: older, of short stature, female, black.

“I’m so sorry,” I stammered, feebly. “It was an accident. I’m late for… jury duty.”

“Jury duty,” the guy scoffed.

I looked at the woman and at the people who helped her up. Their scowling brown faces made the verdict clear. 

Prayer

Lord, sometimes I am as oblivious and heartless as Saul. Thank you for knocking me off my horse to see how I have hurt you, and your beloveds.   

About the Author
Matt Laney is the Senior Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series publishe by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first book, The Spinner Prince available now.