Ten Years Ago-In The Light

The Reston Light has received a report from the Curling-Oei family, currently living in Alabama. Ting Yi Oei is working at a one year fellowship at the Southern Poverty Law Center, developing materials to teach high school students about tolerance and Diane Curling is working with the Alabama Prison Project at Kilby Prison. David is tolerating the stay in Alabama, but much enjoyed his visit home in January.

Al Taylor presented the treasurer's report. At year's end the general fund had received in contribution $26,499, or $1000 over budget. Expenses were $26,973, or $500 over budget, leaving the meeting with a $626 surplus for the year. This does not include income from building rental, which is applied directly to the capital fund Meeting assets in all funds total about $38,000.

Things may be changing in Virginia with the death penalty. Nearly 100 people attended Death Penalty Awareness Day at the Capitol when the legislature convened.. Packets were distributed to all 140 legislators. Del. Frank Hargrove, a conservative Republican is introducing legislation that would abolish the death penalty. You can e-mail him with notes of encouragement at del_Hargrove@House.state.va.us

Virginians for an Alternative to the Death Penaly have put up 2 billboards in Richmond. One is up next to Channel 6- WTVR in Richmond on the 3300 block of Broad St. saying, "Yes Virginia, there is an alternative to the death penalty."
A second one (care of Amnesty International) reads, "Time Out on the Death Penalty. Let's think About It. Support a Moratorium on Executions." Large ads in newspapers will be following. Now is the time to contact your legislators and urge them to support Del. Hargrove's bill to abolish the death penalty, and at least support moratorium bills being sponsored by Delegates Morgan, Devolites, and Almand, and Sen. Marsh.

Virginia is still number one in executions per capita in states with populations over a million, and second only to Texas in total executions. However, there is real resistance to continuing state sponsored executions, manifest in the Virginia Supreme Court's review of the 21 day rule, the pardon of Earl Washington after review of DNA evidence, and the legislative initiatives noted above.

One of the joys in my first year serving as clerk has been the opportunity to share my thoughts with you through the Clerk's Corner. By writing about my walk on the spiritual trail and on some of the ideas and practices that make being Quaker special to me, I have more truly begun to live the "examined life."

Driving home one day recently I heard an interview on the radio with Gian-Carlo Menotti, best known as the composer of Ahmal and the Night Visitors. He was asked what he thought makes for a great opera. He replied that he strives to incorporate four themes in his work: love, compassion, outrage, and wonder. The more I thought about what he said, the more convinced I became that these four characteristics are not just those that define great opera -- they define what a great life is all about.

I particularly like his choice of the words outrage and wonder. Those words may not be the first ones that come to mind when we think of Jesus, but they are fundamental to his nature. Jesus was outraged by the money-changers in the temple; the hypocrisy of priests, scribes, and Pharisees; and the injustices that faced the poor, infirm, and outcast. By way of his parables, Jesus left his listeners scratching their heads, wondering what the stories meant, and forcing them to question their own behavior and actions. Jesus performed miracles, even on the Sabbath, creating outrage and awe all in one.

What does this say to us today? Recognizing that love and compassion are needed in the world is simple enough, yet difficult to truly practice. Outrage is something we might feel but often don't have the courage to express. Instead we even shy away from confronting that which outrages us. Without wonder, we lose our ability to imagine what lies beyond or to hope for a tomorrow that is a little better than today. Outrage and wonder challenge us to find ways to face up to and combat the social injustices of the world. Love and compassion should be our constant companions in how we do it.

The Jesus Seminar a scholarly investigation into the historical life of Jesus is sponsoring a two day session at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston. The discussions will be held on the evening of Friday February 9^th and all day Saturday February 10^th. Th $60 fee includes lunch on Saturday. For more details, or to get a registration form, contact the Westar Institute Toll Free 877-523-3545, or log onto their website at westarinstitute.org

Devika Subedi was born 12/6/00 to Judy Fredericksen and Guna Subedi. She is doing well; Judy reports she is coping with her first fever this weekend. Devika joins Rikesh (age 2 ) and Sangeeta (age 4). The other good news in the Fredericksen-Subedi household is that Sangeeta had successful surgery in November as the next step in reconstructive surgery on the left side of her face. Sangeeta had surgery at birth to remove a benign tumor from her neck and face. With any luck, she won't need any more surgery until she's twelve.

Norman and Shelly O'Foran have returned from China with their new daughter Lan Yulin O'Foran--nicknamed Lannie. Lannie was born on Janurary 12, 2000 in Yulin, China. While Kelly and Carrie babysat Grandma, Norman and Shelly flew to Hong Kong. There they met baby Lannie on the 17th, and attended an orientation session with the other 7 sets of adoptive parents on their excursion. The O'Foran's traveled to Nanning to be interviewed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Justice. After another week in China, they flew back to Virginia, arriving on December 30,2000. Kelly was able to bond well with the new baby by sharing the stomach flu, but Norm reports that everyone has recovered from illness and jet lag.