highjump.jpgOn the way to Seattle, while wading through the security checkpoint line at the airport, I spoke with a fellow traveler, who happened to be a Catholic priest, and asked him if he thought people were inherently good or inherently bad. He paused for a moment before replying that he believed people were more-or-less good but endowed with bad tendencies arising from the “original sin.” That the question is legitimately posed at all is a sign of the times we live in. Certainly there is much evidence to contribute to a cynical, depressing outlook on life: inhumanity to man reigns, people care more and more about themselves and less and less about everything else, and greed and pride govern many of our actions.

Even traditional bastions of stability like the family are no longer sacrosanct. Indeed, it is increasingly rare, in my experience, to find a happily married couple. Statistics argue that I’m not being overly pessimistic either: marriages are lasting shorter and shorter and perceived happiness among spouses falls nearly every year. My friend “Elizabeth” has even forsworn serious relationships altogether because she can’t identify a single positive example of martial bliss among her friends. She is obviously disillusioned, but she is not alone.

On Friday, I had dinner with two old friends, D & R, and I experienced something I hadn’t seen in a while: down-to-earth, solidly good people. They have three beautiful children and have been married for seven years. From my perspective, D & R are each quite unique, yet their differences complement each other in surprising ways. As we talked, I could see something of their genuine kindness, happiness and confidence that only comes from hard work, compassion and maturity. In short, they inspired me with renewed faith in humanity.

So the world may be heading somewhere in a handbag, but that doesn’t prevent people like D & R from setting a good example for the rest of us.