MORAL OF THE STORY:

“I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

— Edward Everett Hale

“Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.”

— Harper Lee

No. 117. That was the number that I wore on my badge during the two-day jury selection process for a criminal case that was tried in Santa Ana. I was part of a pool of more than a hundred potential jurors for what was likely to be a three-week case. Was it going to be inconvenient for me? Incredibly so. Was it something I would rather not have done? You’d better believe it. Did I do my best to try to maneuver my way out of jury duty? Absolutely not. I was willing to be the best juror I could be.

When all the potential jurors for the day were gathered together in the large assembly hall first thing in the morning, we were welcomed and thanked for our participation. A friendly judge acknowledged that he knew we all had other places we’d rather be, but stressed that we were all essential to the justice system. He reiterated that ours is the best judicial system in the world, and I was reminded once again of how thankful I am to live in America, land of the free. As it turned out, I was not selected to be on the jury, something that greatly simplified my life. But I believe that God wants me to try to do the right thing, whether or not it’s convenient. I will try to do my best, and trust Him to handle the rest.

And you can quote me on that.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached at [email protected] or 537 Newport Center Drive, Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.