The pervasive brokenness and darkness of our times springs from so many sources. For one, this is the darkest time of the year-the least amount of sun and light. Can't do much about that. For another, the enormous inequality between the rich and the poor in the state of Maine, in our country, and in the whole world in many ways defines our brokenness.

Perhaps even worse than this is the elusive darkness and deepening fear-toward, for example, Mexicans, Muslims, Somalians and the poor too. We are afraid of those others; we see them as enemies who will burst through our boundaries and hurt us if not destroy us.

Our response to that fear is simplistic, cruel and inhumane. We hear "Send them all back homel" "Wall them of!" Paradoxically, that response makes us less safe and less secure. We can do something about that. We can shift our attention from the understandable, though mindless fear and our own internalized terror to more mindful, factual information. For example, we can look closely at our vetting process which does offer some relief-maybe even comfort.

Our vetting process is, in fact, comprehensive, complete, and in place. Anyone seeking admission to the United States is overseen by the Department of Home Land Securities which rigorously examines each refugee's status. In addition, it requires, many intensive interviews of each refugee or immigrant.

Further, Secretary of State Kerry sent to all 50 governors a detailed letter spelling out the vetting process. It describes the involvement of multiple law enforcement, national security and intelligence agencies across the federal government. Additional precautions have been added with regard to Syrian refugees. Continually, our government evaluates whether more precautions our necessary. Another relevant fact: our government accepts less than one percent of the approximately four million Syrian refugees in the world. For the most part our country accepts Syrian refugees from the most vulnerable families and children, victims of war, famine and torture.

Beyond learning how our vetting process works, each one of us might consider a serious obligation: we can remember that we are all immigrants. We can look into the immigrant's face, look into their eyes and know that there is our brother or our sister. That is kindness. That is an appropriate response to the other in our midst.

That is what makes us one — believers and unbelievers, churched and unchurched, conservatives and liberals, young and old, black or white or brown. Each one of us belongs. Each one of us is an integral part of our rich, multicultural heritage. Our oneness, our unity in diversity makes us strong. It makes those walls crumble and fall down. It is what makes the darkness of our times turn to light, and the brokenness to healing and hope.