We returned to the ‘Play with Purpose’ session, where we contemplated the question: “What could you design and create that would help to meet the needs of learners?” Some of us found this unstructured approach to a structured question a challenge, but we were determined to make it work!

We started by asking the questions suggested by the session so far: “What do you need?”, “What does the promised land look like?”, and “What should the future look like?” We also took ten words from the word cloud on display, for inspiration (and also raided the coffee and cake table!) More questions included: “What do you need, and what you can bring?”, “When we think about leadership and the future, where are the children and young people?”

Next, the group began sharing wisdom and asking questions. One member commented: “Think about airplane investigations – if your plane crashes, you don’t build it the exact same way again!” Yours truly asked “What would be the underwater scuba sign for God?” and we considered “What animals in the jungle would we be?” Another member observed: “The rules of our games can be made up along the way”.

We paused to think about our different experiences of Unitarianism in our different countries, including what one member described as “Freedom, Reason, Tolerance, and Play” and to listen to what the questions are. One issue raised was “how can we collaborate on a global level? Can we have ‘town halls’ and  bring others in?” We talked about the efficiency of democracy, what resources already exist, and agreed that a key question was “who will make sure it happens?” and the need to avoid “that sense that someone ought to do something…” We thought about how we could enable everyone to do things to support one movement, that we will move towards the things that we feel passionate about, but that, as one member cautioned us “it is not enough only to have beautiful dreams.”

We started to develop our ideas and suggestions – one person said “Counter-Monopoly!”, other ideas included “The airplane ship!” and “the Unitarian Potluck!”

Finally, as a large group, we shared ideas and asked “What is beautiful here?” Our answers here:

1. Our determination to keep going and make things work.
2. Bringing together insights from many Unitarian cultures, yet they all make sense together.
3. We need a ‘How to be a UK Unitarian’ starter kit!

Our final observation was: “When we let go or the purpose, then we found it.”

The evening concluded with one of the unexpected highlights of the weekend – a performance by a choir of Ukrainian refugees who had settled in Prague. Many were professional performers, and the magic of music overcame any language barriers as we sat and listened, spellbound. No translation was needed for their final song, one of the most famous protest songs in history, “We Shall Overcome”. As the entire room sang the final chorus, several present were shedding tears at the emotion of the moment.

After a long day, we rounded off with a meal in the canteen, a short walk around Prague at night, and taking the opportunity to sample many excellent Czech beers in the nearby Beer Museum. Though not too many. We had to sing tomorrow!