What A Ten-Year-Old's Devotion To His Favorite Band Can Teach Us About Worship

Martin, age ten, surrounded by members of the "OK Go" Band

Something very special happened last week to Martin Vlasits of Austin, Texas, ten-year-old grandson of our good friends Guy and Margie Vlasits. His parents Jen and Stacy took him to hear his favorite music group, the Los Angelos-based "OK Go" band, known for eye-catching videos lots of children like and for the benefit concerts they do for causes like homelessness, disaster relief and human rights.

Not only did Martin get a front row seat, but got the special attention of the drummer, Dan Konopka, who gave him his drumsticks, autographed with the names of the members of the band.

Needless to say, Martin was ecstatic.

One of the meanings of the word "ecstasy" is "a mental transport or rapture from the contemplation of divine things", from the Greek "ek" (from) and "stasis" (place). In worship (attributing supreme "worth" or "worthiness" to) we are moved from one level, or place, to a higher one, and are transformed into more God-likeness in the process.

What can Martin's experience teach us about how we grownups can do this?

Several words come to mind:

1. Anticipation/Preparation. To say that Martin looked forward to this encounter would be a serious understatement. He was beyond eager to experience something impactful and moving, as illustrated by this Lego creation he came up with prior to the concert, which says "I can hardly wait" loudly and clearly.

2. Creativity/Engagement. Martin wasn't just a passive spectator at the concert, but an active participant. He came with a special offering of an art project he had made that matched the color of each band member's outfit in one of his favorite videos. He applauded and cheered the object of his devotion with abandonment and a complete lack of self-consciousness, introduced himself to his heroes afterwards and then had his picture taken with them.

What would happen if we adults took part in worship with the same kind of child-like attention and receptivity Martin experienced with his favorite band? What kind of art, music, poetry or other expressions would it evoke? What changes of behavior, what deeds of service, would result from our loving God with our whole being--and urgently praying for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

Surely any appointments we keep with the Almighty--with the Creator, Lord and Redeemer of all the earth--should never be a dull or boring experience. Genuine love and adoration always result in ek-stasis, a joyful change of place and perspective

As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God. 

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

Photos by Stacy Vlasits.

After 43 Years, Honoring A Local Country Doctor

Dr. Linford Gehman (photo by Paul Beiler)

The sold out crowd attending the annual Highland Retreat Camp Banquet at Eastern Mennonite School last night gave a standing ovation in honor of Dr. Linford Gehman's 43 years of service at the Green Valley Clinic located near Bergton.

Dr. Gehman and his good wife Becky, long time nurse at the Clinic, have led a staff of RN's and Physician Assistants over the years who have been revered by this rural mountain community and by everyone at neighboring Highland Retreat just across the road.

This coming January the Clinic, founded in 1949 by Gehman's predecessor Dr. Charles Hertzler, another selfless provider of health care for the area, will close its doors and merge with the E. A. Hawse Health Center in Baker, West Virginia. Sometime after that the Gehmans may actually retire.

There were plenty of tears last night as Dr. Gehman and others reflected on the impact the Hertzlers, Gehmans and their staff have made on countless lives over the past half century. Both Hertzler and Gehman were known for personally putting in long hours, taking numerous calls at the doctor's residence next door to the Clinic, and making late night house calls if necessary, sometimes regardless of people's ability to pay.

photo by Jon Styer, EMU Crossroads magazine

 (Dr. Gehman, Elaine See-Dellinger, RN, Hanna Reinford, PA, and Sam Showalter, MD)

"We've had a wonderful symbiotic relationship with the Clinic during all these years," said Pastor Lee Martin, former Camp administrator and and board member, "but the camp program has always benefited the most, and it's hard to think of no longer having the Clinic and the Gehmans as our neighbors."

May God continue to bless good and faithful servants like these.

We Can Afford Humane Mental Health Treatment For Local Inmates

Should suicidally depressed persons be put in restraint chairs?

I've just submitted the following to the DNR as an edited version of an earlier blog. Please read the last paragraph.

Here's question for local legislators: Why should the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail have the lowest budget for mental health services of any facility in the area?

According to information obtained from the RHRJ, suicidally depressed inmates were confined to restraint chairs a total of 22 times during the first six months of this year. The minimum amount of time spent in such restraint, with belts and cuffs immobilizing the inmate's legs, arms, and torso, was two hours, with 28 hours being the longest.

During the same period, the jail’s segregated padded cell was used 14 times for inmates at risk for suicide. RHRJ's "rubber room", the only one of its kind used by any area jail I know of, has no bed or other furnishings, and no mattress, blanket, reading material or eating utensils. A grate in the floor serves as a commode, and the inmate has only a suicide-proof smock for warmth. He or she has no human contact except for regular suicide checks, and is offered no counseling whatever.

During this period 12 inmates were assigned to a regular segregated cell while on suicide watch. Here an inmate is allowed a blanket and a few personal items, similar to the procedure followed by most jails for suicidal inmates.

Incarceration itself, especially in crowded cells with some inmates sleeping on the floor, is extremely stressful, and it’s hard to imagine the trauma the above forms of confinement create for clinically depressed, paranoid and/or suicidal inmates. Hence the efforts of some of us to work with Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson at our local jail, along  with Mr. Lacy Whitmore of the Community Services Board, to seek ways of improving mental health services for local inmates.

This effort includes appealing to members of the City Council and Board of Supervisors for more funds for mental health services as well as offering volunteer local mental health professionals and supervised interns to help as needed. These carefully vetted individuals could work with the CSB and jail personnel to provide therapeutic support for inmates in a time of crisis.

I know it must be challenging for the sheriff and his overworked staff to provide for the needs of some 400 inmates. They have to deal with situations the best way they can with their limited budgets and resources.

But why should our relatively well-to-do community, blessed with a near surplus of mental health professionals, be limited to an annual budget of under $18,000 to provide psychological treatment and care for local inmates? This expenditure, through a contract RHRJ has with our local CSB, is by far the most meager per inmate of any facility in the region, and covers only about an hour of mental health screening and three hours of medication management per week, the latter provided by a trained nurse practitioner.

By comparison, the new Rappahannock-Warren-Shenandoah Regional Jail, with a capacity of 375 when filled, employs a full time mental health worker, and the Winchester Regional Jail, with 600 inmates, has two full time counselors.

The Arlington County Jail, currently housing just over 500, employs five full time professional counselors and a full time psychologist, partly funded with grant money. By last report, Arlington County, with this comprehensive approach, is actually seeing its jail population decline.

Our area boasts of having the lowest tax rate of any in Virginia except for tourist rich Williamsburg, but we are far, far from being the poorest locality in the Commonwealth.

Not only can we afford to offer more decent mental health services here, but given the wealth of human and other resources in our community, we could develop an enviable criminal justice system that could become a model for Virginia and the nation. We could invest more in education, prevention, treatment, diversion and restorative justice programs that help keep people out of the correctional system and less in building ever more expensive jail facilities.

Halloween: A Wierd And Pointless Celebration?

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Since no one gets the day off, how can we call Halloween a holiday? And since it doesn't commemorate some inspiring historic or religious event, how has it become one of the most popular celebrations of the year, right next to Christmas?

Follow the money.

When our children were young, their costumes, and those of most of their friends, were usually improvised and homemade.  Now, according to the National Retail Federation, Americans (the US ones) spend over $7 billion each year on commercially marketed Halloween treats, decorations and outfits, including $350 million spent on costumes for pets. Over one-fourth of all of our annual candy purchases are in connection with this event.

According to the history.com website, in the eighth century Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a day to honor the church's saints and martyrs. All Saints’ Day, as it was called, was meant to replace some of the pagan practices associated with the observance of the festival of Samhain (sow-in), observed on the eve of the Celtic New Year, which was October 31. This non-Christian observance marked both the end of the summer and the end of the calendar year, and signaled the start of a cold and harsh winter, a season often associated with death. On this night before November 1 the ghosts of the dead supposedly returned to roam the earth, often doing damage to crops and causing trouble in general.

In spite of the Pope's efforts at Christianizing this observance, our celebration today remains a lot more like the ancient Samhain than a time to remember our deceased ancestors on the eve of All Saints Day, or All-hallow-tide. "Hallow-e'en" (Holy evening) may as well be called Hollow-e'en as far as it having any Christian significance.

Perhaps some Halloween customs that have evolved over time are harmless enough, like that of children (and barely grown-ups) dressing up in masks and costumes and stalking the neighborhood for huge quantities of sweets. As such it may mostly have become a dental health hazard, but the whole thing does seem a bit weird and pointless, if you think about it.

But having said all that, here at Hamlet Drive we're likely to again keep our porch light on for our grandchildren and for the kids next door to stop by for some sweets.

Is that OK?

Could I Get A Patent On This?

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Ever notice how dramatically our speech changes when the doorbell rings in the middle of a heated argument? Almost by magic we switch from being rude and loud to speaking respectfully and reasonably--a dramatic transformation.

So I've come up with an idea for a simple invention, an indoor doorbell, one that either combatant in a quarrel could activate at any time.

This would serve as a signal that at least someone is sane enough to recognize the need for a "time out" in order for everyone to calm down and cool off before a conflict escalates out of control. The person who rang for the time out would then be responsible to initiate a time back in an hour or so when the temporary insanity is over.

The indoor doorbell, in short, would call for the change of tone we experience every day when we open our door to a guest--a neighbor, perhaps, or a valued friend, or even a sales person. It works every time.

When I was growing up we had a motto in our house like the one below. Since many of us profess to believe that God is already with us, without a formal knock on our door, shouldn't that make a difference?

God is 

the HEAD of this

house

the unseen GUEST at every

meal

the silent LISTENER to every

conversation

I often hear people say, "But I just can't help myself when I get mad. Things just come out of my mouth I can't control."

I'm not ready to buy that. Just witness the instant change that happens every day when our phone or doorbell rings.

Kind of like Jesus walking right into our living room.

Guest Post: The Anabaptist Comma

Christ enthroned, 12th century mosaic

I post the following with the kind permission of the Peace Mennonite Fellowship of Claremont, California, a house church congregation:

The Apostles’ Creed says, “I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate . . . . ”

Notice how the creed goes straight from Jesus’ birth to his suffering? In between there’s only a comma, but as David Augsburger pointed out at our recent Mennonite Church BC LEAD session, “It’s only a comma, but Oooooooooooooooooooh what a comma,” as Walter Brueggemann has said.

In light of this, David’s home church, Peace Mennonite Fellowship in Claremont, California, has adapted the Apostles’ Creed to include Jesus’ life and ministry.  Thank you, David, for sharing your liturgy with us.

The Apostles Creed with the Anabaptist Comma*

 Disciples:            I believe in God ,
                                The Father almighty,
                                Creator of heaven and earth.
                                I believe in Jesus Christ,
                                God’s only Son,

                                our Lord, who was
                                Conceived by the Holy Spirit,
                                Born of the Virgin Mary,

One disciple:                        [Welcomed by shepherds,
                                                Greeted by Magi,
                                                Pursued by Herod,
                                                Sheltered  in Egypt,
                                                Taught by Joseph,
                                                Baptized by John,
                                                Tempted by Satan,
                                                Followed by disciples,
                                                Heard by multitudes,
                                                Understood by simple,
                                                Despised by clergy,
                                                Praised by lepers,
                                                Hosted by outcasts,
                                                Seen by the blind,
                                                Touched by the ill,
                                                Obeyed by psychotics,
                                                Rejected by siblings,
                                                Rebuked by Martha,
                                                Embraced by Mary,
                                                Anointed by a prostitute,
                                                Cheered by crowds,
                                                Loved by John,
                                                Hated by the Powers,
                                                Abandoned by all,
                                                Grieved in Gethsemane
                                                Betrayed by disciple,
                                                Denied by Peter,
                                                Arrested by Herod,]

Disciples:            Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
                                Was crucified, died, and was buried;
                                On the third day he rose again;
                                He ascended into heaven,

                                He is seated on the right hand of the Father

                                He will come again to judge the living and 

                                       the dead.

                                I believe in the Holy Spirit,
                                The holy catholic church,
                                The communion of saints,
                                The forgiveness of sins,
                                The resurrection of the body,
                                And the life everlasting.

*The Anabaptist Comma, written by long time mentor and friend David Augsburger, includes the essential recognition that we are saved by Jesus’ life as well as by his death. This creed is a part of the liturgy of Peace Mennonite Fellowship.

"Soon Enough" A Reflection On The End of Life

Skyline Drive photo

Here are the lyrics to one of our singer-songwriter son's most recent songs, one that especially touches me at a stage of life in which more and more of our loved ones, like beautiful and beloved leaves, fall to earth.

SOON ENOUGH
Brad Yoder

1. A leaf has turned from green to gold and red,
Hanging halfway between alive and dead,
She saved her brightest colors for the end,
She'll join the rest soon enough...       

2. I know that you're afraid of what's to come,
I know, because you're not the only one
But today might be as perfect as we'll get,
If not quite yet, then...            

Chorus 
soon enough, the sun will set,
the night will fall, we'll take our rest,
we haven't read the ending yet, but soon enough.

3. Pressed between the pages of a book,
Is a love I tried to save, that never took,
Wax paper to preserve my best intent,
That's how it went, but...        

Chorus 
soon enough, the sun will set,
the night will fall, we'll take our rest,
we haven't read the ending yet, but soon enough.
soon enough, the light will dim,
until the sun comes round again,
and every song becomes a hymn, soon enough. 

- All rights reserved

Learn more about Brad's music on his web page.

Secretary Of The Commonwealth Speaks At Simms Saturday

Simms Center, 620 Simms Avenue

Local folks won't want to miss this event, featuring special guest Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney speaking on criminal justice issues, including the restoration of rights for ex-offenders. This will be followed by a screening of Brave New Film's 'Overcriminalized', then some readings by local young poet Luke Holloran and a chance to connect with justice focused organizations in our community.

The Fairfield Center will lead a conversation on how we can all help create a safer and more just community. Doors at the Simms Community Center open to exhibits by community organizations at 3:30 and the program starts at 4 pm.

A Splendid Day, A Most Spectacular Drive

A view from the Skyline Drive

Alma Jean and I took the day off yesterday to enjoy a fall foliage tour. Thunderstorms had been predicted for Tuesday, the date we had chosen before knowing what the weather would be like, but our day together turned out to be almost spring-like instead--warm, balmy and with only an occasional brief shower. Perfect.

We began our trek with a leisurely drive through Timberville and then further north on rural roads to Lebanon Church, where we took Rt. 624 toward Winchester to browse some antique shops and enjoy a soup and sandwich lunch at the Back Seat Cafe.

From there we traveled Highway 522 south through some more maple-red dotted landscape to Front Royal and to the north entrance of the Skyline Drive.

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I had almost forgotten how breathtaking the fall scenery is along this historic highway, the construction of which was completed in 1939, the year I was born. Yesterday's mix of sunshine, at times a hearty breeze, along with some occasional clouds and a shower or two made that part of our day truly unforgettable.

Not only did we find ourselves thanking the Creator for the day's feast for the eyes and blessings for the soul, but I also felt grateful for the leadership in Washington years ago that created the Shenandoah National Park and built this one-of-a-kind road for our enjoyment. I also found myself thanking the hundreds of workers who did all of the difficult and dangerous labor that resulted in a highway so beautiful, complete with stonework that reflects truly fine craftsmanship.

One wonders whether our divided nation could accomplish a similar project today as was undertaken then, in part to provide work for hundreds of unemployed men during the Great Depression.

I also found myself feeling sad for the trauma of hundreds of mountain families being forced to move from their homes in the thirties to make room the Shenandoah National Park. Couldn't more of them been allowed to stay if they wished, perhaps to preserve some Appalachian culture along with the preservation of the mountain land that was their home?

Hard questions, but we certainly owe them some serious thanks as well.

My Most Recent EMU "Graduation"

Fifty years later, 38 of the 100 living members of the graduating class of 1964

I gave the following as a part of a special program at Eastern Mennonite University's Homecoming Saturday in which members of our 1964 graduating class celebrated their 50th anniversary and were welcomed into EMU's Jubilee Alumni Association.

"I am honored to be here to celebrate a 'second graduation', this one into the ranks of Jubilee members of the EMU Alumni Association.

"One of my recurring dreams for many years was being a dorm student on some unnamed campus where no one really liked me or cared about me. I’m not a dream analyst but I’m sure that’s an indication of a major subconscious fear of mine when I enrolled here at Eastern Mennonite College in the fall of 1960. I was one of only a handful of Amish students on campus, and didn’t know what kind of welcome to expect, but I found an amazing hospitality and a sense of family here. And we have pretty much made this community our home, literally, ever since.

"It was here that I had the opportunity to sing in college choirs led by J. Mark Stauffer and Earl Maust, and through them the Mennonite Hour Men’s Chorus that sang at the Mennonite World Conference in Kitchener, Ontariao. As a member of the Amish branch of the Anabaptist family gathered there, this was a big thing for me.

"It was here at EMU that I became involved in a student-led jail ministry, something that led to my developing a passion for criminal justice issues. Currently some of us are working at community alternatives to a expansion of our local jail. When I visited inmates here as a college student we had a jail with a capacity of 70. The new one it replaced two decades ago is now overcrowded and holds 400. I'm joining others in asking what's wrong with that picture, and why we should be incarcerating so many people in our community. I realize that a lot of the convictions I've developed about justice issues are rooted in my experience here at EMU.

"And it was here I was introduced to a paper by Virgil Vogt of Reba Place entitled the Christian Calling that made a huge impact on me, replacing my long held “lay versus ordained” thinking to my seeing God’s will as about every believer being engaged in using whatever gifts given them in whatever ways our communities of faith call them to. This in turn led me to being open to serve as pastor of the Zion Mennonite Church soon after I graduated, while continuing to teach part time at Eastern Mennonite High School for many years, and then later to serve as a counselor at the Virginia Conference’s Family Life Resource Center and as an non-salaried pastor of a house church congregation.

"Not one of these roles were exactly what I came here for as a declared elementary ed major. But here I was being prepared, nevertheless, not just in my classes and in the service opportunities provided for me here, but in the many late night conversations I had with friends, mentors and peers that contributed to at least half of my education here.

"I still sometimes wish EMU could still be a little more EMC-ish, just plain and simple, more of a boot camp-like campus, challenging students to travel their world “tourist class” rather than insisting on first class. I hope we invest not only in brick and mortar improvements to our state of the art facilities, but in the kind of scholars from around the world who can help us gain a sense of truly being a part of a global village of shalom and justice, where God's will is being demonstrated all over the earth as it is in heaven.

"I am glad to claim EMU as my alma mater, imperfect though she may be. I’m in debt to her as indeed a kind of “fostering mother” (what the Latin term means) that has nurtured and encouraged me in immeasurable ways.

"So from my heart, thank you, and thanks be to God for the blessing EMU has been to me--and to my good wife of the class of 1963."

At the noon gathering of our class, I was asked to read the names of the following 22 classmates who have passed away in the past fifty years, another form of "graduation":

Kooker, Harold, Yonkers, NY   Oct. 23, 1973

Longacher, Marilyn Landis, Newport News, VA   Nov. 11, 1987

Cordell, Constance Hunsecker    June 4, 1991

Christophel, Rosemary, Harrisonburg, VA   Jan. 1, 1993

Mast, John, Nelsonia, VA   Feb. 10, 1993

Bird, Lois Weaver, Harrisonburg, VA   Dec. 28, 1995

Hess, John Henry, Harrisonburg, VA    Jan. 15, 1996

Gerber, Carol Handrick, Brutus MI     Feb. 20, 1997

Headings, Richard, Harrisonburg, VA    June 26, 2003

Nyce, Cleon, Chambersburg, PA   Aug. 4, 2003

Layman, Paul, Newport News, VA   Jan. 27, 2004

Bosley, Robert, Lititz, PA   May 20, 2005

Lehman, Verna Yeager, Harrisonburg, VA     Oct. 17, 2005

Bender, Nancy Shenk, Schwenksville, PA     May 30, 2005

Garber, Robert, Lititz, PA    Dec. 16, 2005

Roggie, Daniel, Lowville, NY   Dec. 10, 2007

Newswanger, Betty Hershey, Lancaster, PA    July 4, 2009

Gingerich, John, Hartville, OH    Feb. 24, 2010

Brunk, Truman, Harrisonburg, VA   Oct. 8, 2010

Fairfield, James, Singers Glen, VA   Nov. 29, 2012

Horst, Willis, Goshen, IN   Sept. 1, 2013

Glick, M. Catherine, Lancaster, PA    (death date unavailable)

Special thanks to classmates Linda Heatwole Bland and Dr. Elmer Kennel for compiling this list.

We Can Afford Decent Mental Health Services For Local Inmates

Is this the best we can offer a suicidal prisoner?

According to information obtained from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Regional Jail, suicidally depressed inmates were kept in restraint chairs a total of 22 times during the first six months of this year. Two hours was the least amount of time spent in such restraint, with belts and cuffs immobilizing the inmate's legs, arms, and torso, and 28 hours the longest. 

During this same period, the jail’s segregated padded cell was used 14 times for "medical reasons" (for someone considered at risk for suicide). HRRJ's "rubber room", the only one still in use by any area jail I know of, has no bed or furnishings of any kind, no mattress, blanket, reading material or eating utensils. A grate in the floor serves as a commode, and the inmate is given a heavy suicide smock for warmth. He or she is cut off from all human contact except for regular suicide checks, and no counseling is available at this or any other time.

Also during this time period 12 inmates were assigned to a regular segregated cell while on suicide watch. Here an inmate wears a "suicide smock" (paper gown), and is given a blanket and a few approved personal items. This is the procedure followed by most jails and state prisons for suicidal inmates.

Incarceration itself, especially in double-bunked, crowded cells with some inmates sleeping on the floor, is psychologically stressful for anyone, and it is even harder to imagine the trauma the above forms of confinement might create for depressed, paranoid and/or suicidal inmates. Hence the efforts of some of us to continue to work with Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson at our local jail, along  with Mr. Lacy Whitmore of the Community Services Board, to seek ways of improving mental health services for local inmates.

This includes appealing to members of the Harrisonburg City Council and the County Board of Supervisors for more adequate funds for mental health services as well as offering the services of local mental health professional volunteers and supervised interns to help as needed. These carefully vetted individuals could be on call to work with the CSB and jail personnel to provide a therapeutic presence for troubled inmates in a time of crisis.

I fully understand the present plight of the sheriff and his overworked and underpaid staff having to provide for the needs of some 400 inmates. They have to deal with their inmates the best way they can with the limited budget and resources they have.

But why should our relatively well-to-do community, blessed with a near surplus of available mental health professionals, be limited to a budget of under $18,000 a year to provide psychological treatment and care for its local inmates? This expenditure, through a contract HRRJ has with our local Community Services Board, is by far the most meager per inmate of any facility in the region, and covers only about an hour of mental health screening and three hours of medication management per week, the latter provided by a trained nurse practitioner.

By comparison, the new Rappahannock-Warren-Shenandoah Regional Jail, with a capacity of 375, employs a full time mental health worker. The Winchester Regional Jail, with 600 inmates, has two full time counselors, and the Arlington County Jail, with just over 500, employs five full time professional counselors and a full time psychologist, partly funded with grant money. By last report, Arlington County, with this enviable program, is actually seeing its jail population decline.

Rockingham County boasts of having the lowest tax rate in Virginia except for tourist rich Williamsburg, but we are far, far from being the poorest County in the Commonwealth.

We can not only do better than we have, but given the wealth of human and other resources in our community, we could develop a criminal justice program that could become a model for Virginia.

Special thanks to Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson and Captain Steven Shortell for graciously providing information for this blog.
 Click here for more posts on this subject.

I Finally Get Some Attention From Governor McAuliffe! (Note Satire Alert)

In an earlier post I lamented the fact that I had gotten no responses from any emails, letters or phone calls to Terry McAuliffe when he was running for governor. I was trying to get his and other candidates' views on criminal justice and prison reform issues, and assumed that one of his lower level campaign workers would likely send me a position paper on the subject. But no such luck.

I later emailed him twice as Govenor and wrote him three letters  regarding the work of the Virginia Parole Board, which has one of the lowest parole grant rates in the nation. For example, I expressed my concern that the Board had only released 11 of a pool of over 700 aging inmates eligible for geriatric release last year.

(Satire Alert here)

But finally this week I had the good fortune of hearing directly from the Governor himself.  Twice!

Included in my daily list of spam-like emails from well known celebrities pitching their favorite causes, there was the name of Terry McAuliffe, with a sincere message addressed to me, Harvey, personally.

I was of course thrilled when it came through--at exactly 9:45. Then (apparently because he hadn't heard from me) he sent me another one at 11:59, this one simply signed "Terry".

Now I sensed we were getting on a personal, first name basis, and that this could be the beginning of some real conversation.

Or not.

Here are the texts of his messages, both personally addressed to me: 

Harvey,

I don't have to tell you that tonight's deadline is a big one.

Election Day is just 35 days away and the pundits are gearing up to analyze our third quarter fundraising report. Does the movement we built last year have staying power? Is our vision for Virginia one that will work for other Democrats this November?




Then there was this one, about someone he thinks I should know and support:

Harvey --

I know what you’re thinking. Not another fundraising email.

But I’m asking you to pay attention, at least for a moment.

Republicans are spending a fortune to defeat John Foust here in Virginia’s 10th district. $2.8 million in fact.

They’re trying to bring Barbara Comstock to Congress, one of the delegates who voted for the deplorable transvaginal ultrasounds bill.

Harvey, we deserve better than another rubber-stamp for Boehner’s Tea Party majority.

We deserve a true public servant like John Foust.

So I’m asking a quick favor: will you chip in $5 or more to help bring John Foust to Congress?


I think I might pass on the donation, but at least I've finally heard from the governor. Isn't that great?

Beheadings By Religious Fundamentalists Are Not New

Anabaptist Wolfgang Binder beheaded 1571

My wife's ancestor Hans Landis, one of the last known Anabaptists martyrs in western Europe, was executed in the year 1614, just 400 years ago.

Landis was one of thousands who were martyred for advocating for a free church, one completely independent of state control and free of all forms of coercion or violence.

One of the more common means of killing such dissidents in the time of the Protestant Reformation was beheading, next only to deaths by drowning or by burning at the stake. All of these brutalities against Anabaptists (adult baptizers) were carried out in the name of God by Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed jurisdictions alike.

Today we are shocked by similar forms of terrorism on the part of ISIL extremists. But even they have not even begun to decapitate as many people as were killed in this way by religiously controlled authorities in Christian-dominated Europe just centuries ago.

This suggests that brutal forms of torture and killing cannot be associated with any one religion, but with religious fundamentalists of any faith. Sadly, it took hundreds of years for so-called Christians to stop executing unbelievers, members of other faiths and even people of different Christian beliefs.

Maybe one day followers of Jesus will just get out of the killing business altogether.

Let's Designate the Valley Pike A "Virginia Historic Tourway"

Every year thousands of tourists enjoy meandering along nearby scenic routes like the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. For vacationers, it certainly beats dodging loaded semis on I-81.

But there’s another leisurely and beautiful drive we should be promoting, our own Highway 11, the legendary Valley Pike.

My wife and I frequently take this historic old highway up or down the Valley, and we never fail to be impressed by how peaceful it is compared to the stress of battling Interstate traffic. What a variety of inns, antique outlets, museums, historic sites, theaters and natural attractions it offers for folks wandering this part of the Commonwealth!

So what if we officially designated this venerable route the “Valley Pike Historic Tourway”?

There are already a number of “scenic byways” in  Virginia, and Route 11 deserves to be added to the list. But this highway offers far more than “scenic.” It is so rich in history, having started as a well traveled trail used by native Americans long before Columbus's time. Later, westbound wagon trains of settlers followed the Valley Road all the way through Cumberland Gap to Kentucky and beyond.

After 1834, this stage route became the Valley Pike, a much improved toll road serving the growing northwest part of the state ("pike" refers to the wooden pole that blocked the road until the toll was collected). Sadly, a few decades later, thousands of war weary troops marched here on their way to and from bloody battles for control of the “breadbasket of the Confederacy.”

If only highways could talk.

We could help give this one a voice by providing printed and audio guides giving travelers some direction for this kind of adventure, perhaps starting from historic Winchester, home to its great Old Town district and to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

From there visitors could travel  southward through old towns and historic villages like Middletown, Strasburg, Woodstock, Edinburg and Mt Jackson. Additional stops could be at nearby New Market and then of course Harrisonburg, designated a Virginia Main Street Community and home to a transportation museum highlighting the Valley Pike's story in the newly renovated Hardesty Higgens House.

And from here tourists could be pointed toward Mt. Crawford, Mt. Sidney and Fort Defiance and on to Staunton, the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson and the site of the Frontier Culture Museum and the American Shakespeare Center, among other wonderful attractions.

There’s much more. Visiting tour bus groups, cyclists, families in mini-vans and campers, and retirees in RV’s, could continue on to Raphine, Lexington, and Natural Bridge (Route 11 goes right over it) then on to Roanoke, with its historic City Market, the Virginia Museum of Transportation (especially highlighting railroad memorabilia) and many other attractions.

Benefits of this promotion?

1) It could take at least a little pressure off congested I-81. Travelers who have to get to places in a hurry should, as far as I’m concerned, just learn to deal with the stress of this four-lane interstate. The rest of us can choose the serenity route.

2) We could increase the number of travel dollars coming into our area. Most tourists simply pay us a visit, add to the Valley’s economy, and return home.

3) This would be a great way to coordinate the efforts of area towns and cities to get the good word out that the Shenandoah Valley is a great place to visit.

It would be a plus to have our state legislators take up the cause of officially designating this Valley stretch of the highway as a "Virginia Historic Tourway" or some such name, but localities could simply move ahead, in cooperation with, say, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, in marketing this great kind of vacation opportunity without the need of special legislation.

What do you think?

Is Someone In Richmond Listening After All?

Photo by Tim Gruber, Kentucky State Reformatory

For years many of us have been urging the Virginia State Parole Board to free more older prisoners under the 1995 Geriatric Release Statute. This provides for an early release for persons age 60 or more who have served at least ten years of their sentence.

Studies have shown that the likelihood of inmates re-offending after they reach age 50 drops substantially, while the cost of caring for aging prisoners increases dramatically. However, of all of the inmates who applied for a release by reason of age last year, only 11 were approved out of an eligible pool of over 700 incarcerated individuals in Virginia prisons.

But there may be hope. I just had an inmate send me a copy of a letter by A. David Robinson, Chief Corrections Operations that is addressed to all Virginia State Prison Wardens and Superintendents with some encouraging news (emphases mine):

"Effective July 1, 2014, the Virginia Parole Board is required to interview and consider all eligible geriatric offenders for conditional release. Prior to that date, eligible geriatric offenders needed to apply for consideration, however, due to this change it is no longer necessary to apply. Each eligible offender will be scheduled by the Parole Board and reviewed annually. The Parole Examiners who currently interview discretionary eligible offenders will assume the new responsibility utilizing the same process and procedure."

There is no indication in the letter as to whether this change was ordered directly by the governor or just how or why it came about, but another good side to this is up until now an inmate could not apply for geriatric release and discretionary release during the same calendar year (discretionary release is for inmates who were incarcerated prior to parole being abolished in 1995). Now this no longer appears to be the case.

Whether this will result in more aging prisoners actually being freed remains to be seen, as every case is still at the discretion of the five-member Parole Board. Sadly, recent Boards, including the one just appointed by Governor McAuliffe, have granted parole to fewer than 4% of those eligible, which represents one of the lowest parole grant rates in the nation.

One of the men I correspond with in prison wrote, "A 72-year old man here was just granted geriatric release. He told me he had been in prison for 38 years and he is scared to death. He asked the warden whether he could stay here for reentry, but they transferred him to a new prison this morning. He is going to live with his sister when he gets out."

He went on to speak of his own situation, "I'm not old enough for geriatric release, but I've been behind bars for 21 years, have been a model prisoner and would be a model citizen if the Parole Board would give me that chance. The Governor does not understand that they are doing more harm by keeping us until we are no longer able to start our lives over again."

Check this link for more posts on this subject, then make a phone call and/or send a letter expressing your views to the following current members of the parole board and to the Governor, the Secretary of Public Safety and the Attorney General (along with a copy of this post if you wish):

Ms. Karen Brown, Chair
Algie T. Howell, Jr., Vice-Chair 
The Reverend Doctor A. Lincoln James
Mr. Sherman R. Lea

     c/o Virginia Parole Board
     6900 Atmore Drive
     Richmond, VA 23225
     (804) 674-3081

Governor Terry McAuliffe
P.O. Box 1475,
Richmond, Va.  23218
804-786-2211

Mr. Brian Moran
Office of the Secretary of Public Safety
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
Office: 804-786-5351
Fax Line: 804-225-3882

Mr. Mark R. Herring
Office of the Attorney General
900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 786-2071