The universe can appear a chaotic and dangerous place, yet some claim there’s a deeper grain which might even be called goodness.

When a person does good, then, they align themselves with this deeper grain.

“A tribe including many members who, from possessing in a high degree the spirit of patriotism, fidelity, obedience, courage, and sympathy, were always ready to aid one another, and to sacrifice themselves for the common good, would be victorious over most other tribes; and this would be natural selection.”*

These words from Charles Darwin help us to appreciate why, when we hear a story of selfishness or greed or uninvited suffering, we might find ourselves mouthing, ‘That’s just wrong.”  But when we hear a heart-warming story of giving, sacrifice and love, we know there to be something right about it.

Martin Seligman suggests, ‘altruism is an explosive puzzle for selfish-gene theorists … nothing makes us feel better than helping another person.’**  Psychology professor Dacher Keltner even claims it might be we are “Born to be good” – this deeper grain of the universe running through each of us.

Today is called Good Friday by Christians who tell just such a good story, of how Jesus of Nazareth lived out the words with which he’d encouraged his followers, how there’s no greater love than to lay down our lives for our friends.

I guess Friday can be good, then, and every other day.

(*Charles Darwin, quoted in Martin Seligman’s Flourish.)
(**From Seligman’s Flourish.)
(^Quoted in Seligman’s Flourish.)