No jury needed

"Surely He is God who judges"

Psalm 58:11

A volleyball referee.  A parking lot security guard.  And God.  These are the subjects of my musing today...

Awesome Girl had her first volleyball tournament of the season today.  It was, as they usually are, chaotic... 40 courts in a giant gymnasium.  We were late for her call time, as we didn't anticipate the size of the building, and consequently, the number of people who would be arriving the same time we did.  We also didn't know that the parking lot would be disproportionately small in comparison to the building.  There were different parking lots down the street, and different prices to park, and more than a little confusion.  But we got a parking spot, and our day was well under way. 

Another source of confusion for us was the rules of the tournament.  We've been to several tournaments, but never at this venue, and there were more rules here.  The teams all have two byes wherein they are off while the other teams keep playing.  One bye is for them to rest, and during the other they are line judges for another game.  The resting bye also gives them a chance to eat, as tournaments usually last several hours.  So teams usually set up "camps" out in the parking lot with chairs and tables and some "community" food.   Well, this place doesn't allow those.  I guess they wanted the teams and their families to make use of the venue's refreshment stands.  But to be honest, that seemed like yet another way for this place to make money off of us, what with the entry fee the team had already paid, and the parking fee, and the admission fee my husband and I each had to pay to watch our daughter...  But that might just be me being cynical...

So during her byes, Awesome Girl hung out with her teammates, and I went back to the car, along with Amazing Boy, and the Apple of me Eye.  We read and ate a few snacks while waiting for our team's next game.  But all of a sudden there was a kerfuffle in the row opposite us.  The group from another team had set up a camp, and the parking lot attendant was telling them they weren't allowed.  It didn't seem like a traffic obstruction, as they were in the corner, and cars couldn't come down there anyway.  But she was telling them they weren't allowed, and one of the parents was protesting loudly.  We understood his viewpoint, and even shared it, but rules are rules.  Angry Parent also pointed out that there was another group also gathering nearby, but the parking lot attendant pointed out that they were not setting up tables and chairs.  They were just standing near each other while they ate.  And the parking lot attendant kept telling Angry Parent that her job was the enforce the rules, not make them.  If he had a problem, he'd need to talk to the man in charge. 

Back in the gymnasium, we settled in for the next set of games.  Awesome Girl is in a new age bracket this year, so the rules have gotten a little stricter.  Closer to "official" volleyball rules, I guess.  But since I don't get a rule book, it was hard to keep up.  More than once, the ref blew his whistle, and I had to turn to the Apple of my Eye and say, "Now what happened?"  He generally knew what the call was, but a few times, all he could do was shrug.  And we didn't always agree with the ref's calls.  Sometimes the decision of whether a ball was in or out is rather subjective.  Especially if it was our girl that hit the ball  ;)   But the ref wasn't alone.  He had a handful of line judges helping him make the calls.  And sure, it's possible they made errors in their judgement, but, well, that's the way the ball bounces.  {ba dum bum!}

So that's the parking lot security gal, and the volleyball referee.  Now about God.

I met with a friend yesterday, whom I haven't seen in nearly two years, so naturally we had a lot of catching up to do.  And as we shared our joys and struggles, we both shared the trials we had gone through, that had caused us to ask God, "why?"  Why did He allow that circumstance?  Why did He say "no" to that opportunity?  Why hasn't He taken that painful situation out of my life?

And although my friend and I discussed the good that can come out of difficult times, and the knowledge that He will work all things for good in our lives, we also know that God could have achieved those goals He desired for us, in another way.  And most of the time, we have no idea why.  And quite possibly, we never will. 

So here's the important point.  The parking lot attendant and the volleyball ref both make judgement calls as part of their line of work.  They know the rules for their job, and though they may make mistakes, they do their best to adjudicate fairly.  But ~ they don't make the rules.  They have the authority to judge, but in the sense of enforcing the rules. 

God is the only true Judge.  Our world is His creation ~ as are we.  He designed our planet, as well as our hearts and our brains, and only He understands why and how things work.  We have to trust Him!  We have to!  Man, it's so hard sometimes, isn't it?  And that's because, when it comes right down to it, we can't see.  We just have to rest in the knowledge that it's enough that He does.

~ "Let the heavens declare His righteousness,

For God Himself is Judge.

Selah" ~

Psalm 50:6