A Call to Kindness on Good Friday

Finding The Good Again

Today felt like the right day to discuss something simple yet often overlooked: being a good person.

Not because I’ve got it all figured out. I don’t. However, we could all use a gentle reminder about the power of kindness, compassion, and grace in a world filled with noise, division, and distraction.

For many of us, the struggle for daily survival is no longer at the forefront of our concerns. Our basic needs are met. And with that comfort comes a strange twist—we’ve become less patient, more judgmental, and increasingly quick to criticize. Empathy gets buried beneath outrage. Grace takes a backseat to grievances. And instead of lending a hand, we reach for a soapbox.

But what if we chose a different path?

What if we remembered that you don’t have to be perfect to be good—you just have to care and do your best?

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” – Matthew 5:7

Mercy is more than a reaction—it’s a way of being. It invites us to look beyond the moment, to see the human being behind the behavior. I’ve seen that kind of kindness. I have witnessed strangers lending a helping hand to each other. Communities rallying around those in need. First responders who potentially risk everything to save others in distress. These moments remind me that most individuals, at their core, are still good, caring people.

But something shifts when we move from individuals to groups. We draw lines. We divide. We start deciding who’s worthy of our kindness—and who isn’t. We pick sides instead of building bridges.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.” – Matthew 7:1-2

That doesn’t mean we stop caring about what’s right and wrong. But it does mean we stop assuming we know everything about someone else’s journey. Kindness starts with humility. With the understanding that we’re all works in progress. That we’ve all fallen short at some point. And that the same grace we hope to receive should be the grace we extend to others.

Here’s what I want to make clear: you don’t have to be a believer to appreciate or heed the wisdom in these words.

Whether you see Jesus of Nazareth as your Savior, a great teacher, or simply a voice for radical love in a divided time, the truth in his message transcends religion. You don’t need a church pew to understand the power of kindness. You don’t need to follow doctrine to practice grace. The call to treat people with compassion, even when it’s difficult, is a call to something bigger—something healing, something human.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

Kindness, at its core, is an act of peacemaking. It quiets the noise. It softens hard hearts. It clears a path for understanding where conflict might otherwise grow.

And maybe that’s what we’re most starved for right now—real human connection. Not polished. Not perfect. Just honest. The kind that says, I see you. I hear you. I won’t give up on you.

When Leadership Falls Short

I think part of what’s making kindness feel so rare is that many of the people we’ve traditionally looked to for leadership are falling short.

Too often, those with the loudest microphones are choosing division over unity. They stir outrage instead of offering vision. They chase applause instead of doing the hard work of building something better.

But here’s what I’ve come to believe: leadership is not about position—it’s about example.

You don’t need a platform to lead with character. You don’t need a title to lift others. True leadership is demonstrated by your ability to communicate with your team when things are not going smoothly. How you respond when someone’s hurting. Whether you bring calm to a room or add to the chaos.

We can’t always change the headlines. But we can shift the tone in our own homes, businesses, and communities.

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:13-14

Salt preserves. Light illuminates. That’s our role—to protect what’s good and shine where others go dark.

A Good Friday Reminder

This all hits especially hard today because it’s Good Friday.

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate what this day stands for. It’s not about dogma—it’s about demonstration.

Good Friday is the ultimate act of love in motion. A single person, willingly taking on the pain of others, not for applause, but out of love. It’s a reminder that kindness often costs something, and that true forgiveness is born in the middle of pain, not the absence of it.

It teaches us:

• That every soul is redeemable

• That grace is always available, even in the hardest moments

• That love is strongest when it’s hardest to give

• And that our lives matter most when they touch the lives of others

So, whether you come to this day with deep faith, quiet curiosity, or no religious tradition at all, the lesson remains:

We are called to be better to one another.

Not perfect.

Just better.

Kinder. Gentler. Quieter when we want to shout. Open when we’d rather close off. The world doesn’t need more selfishness, biased judgment, and strong opinions. It requires more heart.

So today, I hope you pause.

I hope you reconnect with the goodness that has always been within you.

And I hope you let it out more.

Let your light shine—one small act of kindness at a time.

If we want our world to be better, we must infuse it with a different, more positive, compassionate energy.