May countries be like Me and serve all the citizens of the world. Can you imagine Me serving one nation and not another? Can you imagine My holding on tight and calling it My duty? Of course, I am responsible to all. You are too. And countries are as well.

It is limited thinking that separates. More or less honorable reasons for separation are found, and yet they are excuses to uphold the concept of "me first." Whether "me first" is the theme of a country or an individual, it is short-sighted. It may be considered practical, yet it is not practical. It is cutting off the feet to fit the bed. It is not wise nor practical for nations or individuals to bar their hearts. A country's selfishness does not fly a flag of high-mindedness nor does an individual pin a medal on himself for his self-centeredness.

A country does ultimately do the bidding of its people. When enough individuals open their hearts wide, the nations they live in will also open their hearts. Instead of going by their fears, countries will go by their love. Instead of thinking: "We must keep others out for our own safety," they will be thinking: "What additions will those beyond our present borders bring to us? What greatness and gifts will they bring by their very desire to come live with us? What untold treasures with they bring to us? And what untold treasures will their children bestow? What would we be losing out on by our hard stand?"

What if countries didn't come from the premise that, for our own good, we must keep others out, but instead came from the premise of what goodness do we welcome to our shores? It is better to be thinking of friends rather than thinking of enemies. Isn't this common sense? What a difference does a tiny switch in thinking make when it goes from OFF to ON.

Sometimes I see countries seeing themselves as the hoi-polloi, debutantes or sororities or fraternities bent on keeping people out and allowing only a very select few in, and thus going by standards that may not truly benefit themselves. Does it have to be so hard to get into a sorority? What is a sense of superiority or snobbery worth? I thought humility merited more than pride.

I know you are on two sides of this issue. Certainly, there is a balance between caution and freedom. Welcoming doesn't mean laissez-faire. Welcoming means openness. Because a lion does not clamp his jaws and bite doesn't mean he is less of a lion. He has not abandoned his lionhood. He keeps his lionhood intact. He knows that the forest is for more than himself alone.

We have talked before about giving. There is more that you can give. There is more that you can let go of. I do not say that you must give away all your worldly goods to someone else. I ask all nations and you as individual not to clamp your jaws so tight. I ask that there be bigger thinking. I ask you to loosen the bars of your heart.

If all are your brothers, all are your brothers. If you are one with your brothers, then the world is also one. One world of love could not hurt anyone, beloveds. You would be adding to the coffers of the world. Let in greater vision. Let in more possibilities. Hardening of arteries is not something to recommend. Nor is hardening of hearts. Be of good heart and love your neighbor from a higher plane.