Burned Bridges

A man may come to doubt the omnipotence of God without denying his

Maker. He may scorn churchly creeds and cleave to the Golden Rule. He

may hate greed and oppression, and injustice and intolerance, and

ruthless exploitation of man by man--and still hold firm faith in

humanity, still yearn to love his neighbor as himself.

To do good, to fight hard and play fair, to love faithfully and to

desire love, to go out of the world when his time should come with the

knowledge of having at least tried to make it a little better for those

who were in it, and for those who should come after. That was Wes

Thompson's working philosophy of life--if he might be said to have a

philosophy--although he certainly never formulated it in words.

He married a woman whom he loved dearly, who loved him, was proud of

him, who saw life as he did--through tolerant, comprehending eyes. So if

you ask whether they found real and lasting happiness I can only cite

you bald facts. I cannot prophesy. But I wish my chances were as good.