Two years ago, I was alone in Germany without a functioning cell phone trying to meet up with my aunts, who were in another town. Lost and jet lagged, lugging my bags and looking every bit like a clueless tourist, a young man came to my aid. He asked where I was going, carried my suitcase, and made sure I got on the right train. In my broken German and his broken English, I learned that he was a Syrian. He had taken refuge in Germany — hoping to build a life that included a future.
When I hear reactions to the evil attacks in Paris that include a call to seal our borders from Syrian (or other) refugees, I worry that those who react from a place of fear have sealed their hearts. And I think of the young Syrian who helped me find my way in Germany. There are many more like him who will help us find our way to a better world. If, and only if, we retain the best of our humanity, even and especially in the face of evil.
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