We were transported Friday night into the movie White Bird, an experience that will have a profound and lasting impact.

White Bird unfolds a powerful story that bridges generations and explores the impact of kindness during the darkest times.

This poignant film serves as a companion to the beloved movie Wonder, offering a deeper look into the backstory of Julian Albans, the bully from Wonder. Through the lens of the harrowing experiences of his Jewish Grand-mère (his grandmother) in Nazi-occupied France, White Bird reveals how even the smallest acts of love and courage can create ripples of hope.

KINDNESS WILL SAVE US

Grand-mère shares the story of a classmate, Julian, a boy she didn’t know by name at first, who risked everything to protect her. A quiet and kind-hearted boy, Julian helped hide her from the Nazis during their occupation of France. His small but courageous acts of kindness–bringing her food, offering her shelter, and providing her with companionship–were life-saving.

She reflects, “You see, it is not just that he saved my life. He saved my very being. My hope. My…light.” This sentiment underscores how acts of compassion can preserve not only life but also one’s inner spirit.

HATRED WILL DESTROY US

Elisa’s nephew Timothy Olson recently shared some insightful thoughts on America’s political divide: “Republicans accuse Democrats of being Communists, and Democrats accuse Republicans of being Fascists. Truth is, neither are good for humanity.”

Timothy is spot on.

So much of what defines our national and personal interactions is focused on our differences–be they political, social, religious, or lifestyle. This extreme focus on differences creates a drastic cultural divide, a divide more artificial than real, causing even the normal challenges of everyday life to feel insurmountable.

A few years ago, Timothy attended a conference at Utah State University where Dr. Jeannie Johnson, a former CIA analyst and Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, spoke about attacks on America from within. She explained how countries antagonistic to America use social media to post radically polarizing stances, aiming to divide Americans.

Timothy wrote:

“If the enemies of America can’t destroy it from the outside, they will try to destroy it from the inside.”

THE KINDNESS OF INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP

Returning to the wisdom of Grand-mère from White Bird:

“Hatred is not normal. Cruelty is not normal. Love is normal. Kindness is normal. But simply knowing this is not enough. It must be shared. It must be practiced. Sometimes the smallest gesture can lead to the greatest change. A very wise man, Martin Luther King, once said, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only the light can do that.’ … We must, all of us, use the light within ourselves to stop the injustices of today. For only then can we be certain that the darkness of the past will never be repeated.”

This is not a call to ignore the reality of the challenges we face. Rather, it’s an invitation to respond differently–to choose light over darkness, love over hate, and kindness over cruelty.

Grand-mère’s words align deeply with the principles of Intentional Leadership.

When you face division, look for ways to intentionally focus on creating light and kindness through listening, patience, and seeking to understand. Be intentional in your approach. And consistent.

This week, I invite you to consider how you can intentionally practice love and kindness in your daily life. Reflect on how you, as an Intentional Leader, can look for opportunities to lead with kindness and inspire others to do the same. These small, intentional, consistent acts can drive out the darkness and ensure that light and love prevail.

INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP 13-MINUTE ACTION

Take 13 minutes today to intentionally look for ways to lead out in kindness.

❤️❤️❤️

I love you, friend!

Have a great Monday! Thanks for letting me share.

Les

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