On April 4, 1949, when I was 10, my father gave me a Bible, in which he wrote: “Read a little every day, apply the principles that you learn to your daily life, and life with all of its adversities as well as death can be faced with confidence and composure.”

What have I learned in 66 years? The 25th chapter of Matthew says that when the Son of Man shall come in his glory and shall separate the nations, the King will say to the saved, “Come ye blessed … for I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me.” And they shall ask, “When did we do all that?” and the King shall answer and say, “Verily I say unto them, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

And now we have thousands of refugees from Syria. And the governors of many states, including ours, wish to turn them away.

I’m not sure about heaven and hell, but I think that the words of Jesus are useful in determining what is right or wrong. It seems clear to me what is right in this case.

We must take care not to take in terrorists among their innocent victims, but if we follow these teachings we can live (as Dad said) with confidence and composure. So let us not be afraid to do the right thing, but let us help the least of these our brothers and sisters and feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and take in the strangers.

Shame on the cowardly governors, including ours.

Tom Feagin, Readfield

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