I'm
grateful to be here in the 186th District Courtroom at the Bexar
County Courthouse this morning for what is proving to be one of the
most challenging, but joyful and life-affirming events I've ever
witnessed.
Zet
and I are here to testify on the behalf of William White-Volk, who's
been an integral part of the Celebration Circle community for the
past fifteen years. He and his mother, Ellen White, have long since
become family friends, and my eyes get teary as I look at Will and
remember the sweet-faced, five year-old who used to hug me around the
knees every Sunday morning. Now he's taller than me and all
dressed up in a brand new, dark blue suit, pacing up and down the
hallway, facing the stark possibility of receiving a
five-years-to-life sentence for a first degree felony charge of
aggravated assault, to which he has plead no contest.
SURROUNDED
BY LOVE
Will,
Ellen, Zet and I met with his lawyer earlier this week to practice
every step of this morning's hearing, and we feel pretty good about
his chances, but today feelings are tense as we greet each other in
the hallway. Fortunately, Will and Ellen are not alone, because
twenty-five other folks from the Celebration Circle community and
their family have come here on a cold, wet, Thursday morning
to surround them with love at this difficult time. Seeing this crowd
in the courtroom makes me proud to be part of such a loving,
affirmative community.
It's
been almost a year since Will was arrested for his role in an ugly
incident involving drugs, guns and money, that left him in a coma for
four days. It was the horrific result of a series of poor choices
he'd made during his last year in high school, leading him to people
and places that were totally inconsistent with the warm, loving home
in which he'd been raised by his sweet, smart mother. Fortunately,
Ellen had the courage to embrace "tough love" and leave him
in county jail, rather than bail him out while he was awaiting
sentencing for his crime.
As
difficult as it was for both of them, those three months behind bars
forced Will to take a deep look inside himself - as well as a long,
hard look around the cellblock - and to begin making a new set of
choices. My clergy visitation privileges allowed me to serve as a
conduit for the outpouring of love and support that he received from
his family and Circle friends during this period. It was
heartbreaking, but also heartwarming, to witness Will's long, hard
process of accepting responsibility for his actions, making amends
and creating new goals for himself.
CHANGED
BY LOVE
Since
being released on his own recognizance in February while awaiting
trial, he's been working diligently to meet all the court's
requirements, attending classes at San Antonio College, finding a
full-time job, putting in many hours of community service and
creating a positive vision for his life. Even so, we are all fully
aware that he could still be sentenced to some serious jail time
today, and that possibility hangs heavy in the air.
The
judge remains stone-faced when presented with the report of Will's
hard work, along with the thick stack of letters of commendation that
have been written on his behalf. But when the defense attorney asks
all those in the courtroom that are here to support Will to stand,
the judge is clearly amazed to see twenty-five people rise in
silence. The room goes absolutely still, as not just Judge Herr, but
all of the many legal professionals who have been milling around the
room handling various details of the thirteen other cases being
processed here today, turn and stare in astonishment at this powerful
show of love and support.
LOVE
IN ACTION
The
scene remains frozen for several long beats, while the judge clears
her throat and deliberates before giving Will the most favorable
outcome he could have hoped for under the circumstances: ten years of
deferred adjudication. Presuming that he continues on his current
path, the charges will be completely removed from Will's record in
ten years, and quite possibly sooner. This is great news.
There's
no way to measure what effects our presence, our letters and our
support may have had on the judge's decision. Yet there is hardly a
dry eye in the room, as she asks the group to stand again, orders
Will to turn around and look directly into his supporters' faces,
inviting him to feel the importance of living up to the faith that
has been placed in him by his community who are holding him
accountable.
GRATEFUL
FOR LOVE
A
few minutes later, we're all hugging each other joyfully in the
hallway, where it definitely feels like Thanksgiving has arrived
early. There's so much to be thankful for. As tragic and difficult as
this process has been for everyone involved, it has helped Will and
Ellen come to a much more peaceful, positive place in their
relationships with themselves, each other and their community. And
the Circle family has certainly been strengthened, not just by Will's
personal growth, but our collective growth in faith, and a
willingness to demonstrate that faith in action.
It's
one thing to talk, sing and study about conscious love and Oneness,
but it's even more powerful to see those concepts make such a
concrete difference. And I, for one, am deeply grateful to be able to
participate in this process and bear witness to the healing power of
Love. Happy Thanksgiving, indeed!
With
gratitude and blessings.
Rudi
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