I had jury duty yesterday. I was called for a DWI case, and was rejected because I do not drink alcohol. I guess the attorney felt that someone who didn't drink couldn't fairly judge someone who thought nothing of consuming alcohol and then getting behind the wheel of a car.

I went to the courthouse knowing that I wouldn't find any healthy food close by and prepared for a long day of sitting. My panel was called mid-morning for questioning. When the judge released us for lunch I declined the invitation by fellow jurors to eat at a nearby greasy spoon. The company would have been nice, but I had packed salmon, black beans and okra.

I thought I would eat on one of the benches outside, and afterward go for a walk around the courthouse to stretch my legs. However the weather had turned nasty. It was cold and misty. I found a cozy booth in the courthouse cafeteria, and I found something even more interesting - signs indicating an indoor walking path.

After lunch I followed the signs and walked a mile and a quarter at a brisk pace. Then I climbed the stairs to the top floor of the courthouse. I returned to the jury room well satisfied after a Type O lunch and some moderately strenuous exercise. Shortly afterward they released me - my duty was completed.

On the way home the radio was playing Christmas music. A line from Handel's Messiah grabbed my attention, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." The Bible follows those words with these, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever."

It sometimes seems that there is no justice in this world, but a time is coming when Christ will establish justice and peace for all. That is one of the wonderful messages of Christmas.