Recollections of SYM Retreat 2026

..... Seeing the state of the world today in 2026 might justify a good portion of despair. The appeal of George Fox to his followers to walk cheerfully, i.e. courageously and enthusiastically,[1] over the world, preaching by example and inspiring others to open themselves to God’s guidance available within them, can seemingly offer little hope in 2026 as a means of bringing about substantial change in public affairs, global politics and environmental conditions. Without hope that following Fox’s advice will transform the world today, we might ‘answer that of God in everyone or everything’ – as we understand it – merely as a courtesy and because the alternative is unappealing. More substantively, we might also be strengthened in following this path because of what our speaker, Lindsey, reminded us: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not vanquished it” (John 1:5). No matter how much darkness exists in a space, be it grief, ignorance or malice, it takes only a tiny spark of Light to displace this darkness and to transform the space radically.