Human(Kind) How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together

A talented storyteller and peacemaker asks: Can kindness kindle a revolution?

“Ashlee teaches by example how to live with courage and compassion, and I believe her perspective and voice will be deeply meaningful to so many people.”—Shauna Niequist  

Long before polls, protests, and political issues divided us, we were joined by a humanness that God considered very good. Created in his image, we reflected the height and depth of God’s loving-kindness, but our discord has blinded us to the imago Dei in us all.

In this compelling collection of essays, Ashlee Eiland shares her story of being a black woman living on two sides of the fence: as the token black girl in majority-white spaces and as the “whitewashed” black girl in majority-black spaces. As she discovers her own unique worth through these recollections, Ashlee learns that extending radical kindness toward every person—regardless of social status, political views, or religious beliefs—gives us hope and rekindles our common humanity.

With grace and humility, Human(Kind) invites us to chart our own formative journeys and recognize our inherent value, cultivating empathy so we may once again see the image of God shining brightly within one another.

Ashlee Eiland serves as the formation and preaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church. She shares God's message of redemption and reconciliation at conferences, colleges, and events around the country. Ashlee earned a BA in international relations from the University of Southern California and completed her master's in organizational leadership at Judson University. She blogs regularly and has contributed articles to Relevant magazine. Ashlee and her husband, Delwin, have three children and live in Grand Rapids.