Today I am grateful for the inherent goodness of humanity.  We don’t hear much about humanity’s inherent goodness.  Spend any amount of time watching the news and you would think all that is out in the world is man’s inhumanity to man.  But there is so much more out there than just the bad stuff.

I spent this morning writing almost 100 thank you notes.  They were written to people who had donated to our annual appeal letter for our parish food pantry.   I was struck by the fact that I had never met the vast majority of people who gave to the appeal.  Many were from different parts of the state and the country.   But somehow, our letter found its way to them, and they were moved enough to care and give what they could. I was touched by all the little notes written on the response envelopes; things like “I wish I could give more…”  or  “How else can I get involved?”  or  “thank you for all you do..”.

I have worked in the business of people for a long time now.  I have known people from all walks of life, all different races, religions, economic backgrounds, varying levels of physical and mental capabilities.  And what I have found is that people WANT to do good. People are looking for their lives to have meaning, and, more often than not, that includes caring for others and some kind of service.  All they need is an invitation, an opportunity to do good.

Today I was moved by people caring for other people — people they have never met and probably never will.  People who wanted the best for another who is a stranger.  That is inherent goodness.  And I see that goodness all the time.  And for that, I am so very grateful.