Justice and Mercy

I've been walking the dark journey of divorce with a woman for several years now. This seems to be a specialty of my ministry and I am grateful that God is able to use those ugly days of my own life in ways that perhaps support others. This week we went to court again in an ongoing dispute with this woman's ex. And while I view my role with these women who call on me as merely a traveling companion, my own soul is always impacted in some manner.

My friend, like most divorced women, is strapped for cash. Actually she is in dire straights, and her faith and courage in the face of her ongoing struggles is inspirational and admirable. But strapped for cash with children at home equals no money for an attorney. So when an ex spouse decides to be a jerk and take a matter to court, no attorney equals a scary place in which to be. If you really think our legal system is fair, take a day and sit in a courtroom. You will quickly see that if you have the funds to hire an attorney, you may get a shot at justice. But no funds for an attorney? You probably won't even make it into our legal system. Our legal system works for those who can pay to play the games. But when the court calls, you go. And so this week we found ourselves entering into the place of justice, that place in our political system that weighs the dispute and supposedly finds the answer.

Usually my visits to the courtroom leave me shaking my head and wondering where the humanity is. Where is Jesus in all of this mess (because the courtroom is a living testimony to the mess of life)? But this week I was bombarded with experiences of mercy, something I don't usually equate with our legal system. Don't misunderstand; my friend's case was not settled yet, there was no justice and certainly no mercy doled out for her that day. But God's mercy was evident in abundance just the same.

I knew my friend had been in touch with the legal aid system in our state. But knowing how overwhelmed that system is, I had no expectations that a court matter of this type would get their attention. How wrong I was! My heart just burst with thanks to God when not only the attorney from legal aid, but a law student studying there, showed up as well. I was flooded with thanks for the people in our world who give their talent and education to us without need for immense compensation. This man could earn a very handsome income in our city, but instead he chose to share his gifts with all, not just those of means. His beat up, tattered brief case attested to this fact. What a contrast to the other attorneys who strutted in and out of the courtroom.

And then in came the court appointed interpreter. Not for us of course, but for a Spanish speaking man whose employer was still withholding child support payments from his checks despite the fact that he had met his obligations. A man who clearly needed every dollar he could to make ends meet. With grace and dignity, both the interpreter and the judge listened to the man's story. Justice was dispensed in mercy for his situation.

And the judge himself. I've been in his courtroom before, and am always quite impressed, always wishing more judges gave the careful attention to the details of the case while also listening to the stories people are telling them, as he does. He did not disappoint me this week. I heard him explain to a woman that if her ex did not take the court required parenting class, the judge would not sign a joint custody or joint parenting agreement. Now, the woman did not understand what he was telling her, but all the same this judge was protecting those children, and probably the woman as well!

And then there was my friend. Who rushed from the courtroom when the woman I just mentioned left. My friend could not tolerate the thought of this mother leaving and not really understanding what had just happened. Even in her own fear and doubt, my friend was compelled to reach out to this other mother, to someone she had never met, would never see again. And so she explained to her what the judge was doing and why. And the other mother left relieved.

Mercy....all over the place this week. Attorneys who are in their profession to give aid to all, those aspects of our court system (like interpreters and required parenting classes) that really do try to provide justice to all, judges who take their roles so seriously while also being human, people like my friend who can still step outside their own pain and struggles to help a stranger in need. Yes, Jesus was in the courtroom this week. Amen!