Rebecca Bellamy suggests a change in perspective to help create hope as we grapple with questions about living well together and deep division in society.

Quakers are continuing to grapple with the question of how we can live well together while navigating deep division in society. But just changing our perspective, in order to focus on hope and the tools we have, can be transformative, as the quote from David Gee in the title suggests.

Changing my perspective

The long view

Sometimes, I like to learn about the extraordinary progress made over decades or even centuries. Seeing how social, environmental, and medical progress has shaped our world reminds me that transformation isn’t just possible – it’s happening, little by little.

The micro view

At other times, hope can also be found in the small acts – the quiet moments of kindness, unity, and solidarity that usually miss the mainstream news. Sharing these stories is an act of resistance against despair, but also where these acts represent values that challenge the division we see they can take on new significance. For example, community gardening with refugees in the context of these communities being at the sharp end of structural and cultural and sometimes physical violence, makes community gardening with refugees an act of hope, solidarity and resistance.

Small acts of hope can look like sharing a cup of tea, or a poem, or a beautiful message with someone you might have an unlikely friendship with. It could be an act of care, providing some practical support or companionship. Or it could be something organised to build or deepen connections between communities. What else could small acts of hope look like?