Grand Junction: A Community of Kindness
Grand Junction, and the surrounding community of the Grand Valley has been known in the
past for its kindness, being friendly, generous and considerate. While that culture has been kept
alive in various church, non-profit, service clubs, schools and government programs we are yet
being affected by the general anxiety and political polarization of the times we live in.
The need of kindness, to be known and accepted is universal, everyone wants it, needs it and
has the ability to give it. The Mesa County Kindness Challenge was birthed in that thought.
Captain Kindness, the superhero figurehead of the initiative, began encouraging the people
about kindness being their superpower that could make things better at home, school,
workplace and community. They began to respond in wonderful ways. Kids began finding the
lonely ones and befriending them at school as well as strategizing how they could bless their
family and neighbors. Passionate social justice warriors found themselves softening as they
thought about the kind of community they wanted their children and grandchildren to grow up
in. Parents rediscovered what they had always known, that kindness was an important part of
society and that political and social issues were downstream from culture; still important but
not as important as treating others the way we ourselves would like to be treated.
Restoring our common humanity is key. No matter who wins elections or triumphs in social
issues we will still have to find a good way to live together when the election is over if we are to
regain common respect and peace. We may not remember what someone said, but we will
always remember the one who treated us with kindness.
Join us! Try the Mesa County Kindness Challenge and see that it makes life better all around.
The Kindness Challenge
1- Start a conversation seeking to understand rather than to be understood. Ask questions,
listen, and genuinely take interest in the responses.
2- Listen without preconceiving your response. Understand their perspective before speaking.
People often self-counsel as they talk and you may not need to say anything.
3- Speak about your perspective with kindness. If there is strong disagreement, affirm the
others right to their opinion. Take “winning” off the table.
4- Acknowledge others. Make everyone you encounter feel like an equal- wave, say hello,
make eye contact, hold the door open, etc.
5- Approach those around you with appreciation. Everyone is unique, with different
experiences, talents, skills and perspectives; even the angry ones. Everyone has something to
say that’s worth consideration.
6- Be kind to yourself. Let go of stresses and burdens that are beyond your control. Take a
walk, pet a dog, play with your kids. It’s difficult to be kind to others if you’re anxious and on
edge.
7- Do what you can to help. There may not be anything you can do, but just caring enough to
actively listen can be a healing and encouraging influence all by itself.
8- If you are a person of faith, or of none, pause and reflect in prayer or meditation. As
humans, we all need a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves for peace,
comfort and inspiration, whether that be in God or some other source. Human kindness and
being part of a greater purpose is very powerful.
9- Take a break from social media. Limit your negative relational and media influences. Choose
hope.
10- Resist the impulse to see those on the opposite side of the political spectrum as your
enemy. Understand that we are a tribal species whose brains are susceptible to dividing the
world in and “us-versus-them” way. Don’t fall for it; we’re all humans with the same hopes,
fears, desires, dreams and needs.
11- Pause before hitting send. Take a breath. Wait 24 hours and then reconsider sending.
2- In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND.
Jim Hale, local pastor and alter-ego of Captain Kindness can be contacted at
captainkindnessco@gmail.com or website: convergencegv.org or Facebook: Mesa County
Kindness Initiative