A reflection on Enchantment: Critical Issues Symposium 2024

On Sep. 26, Hope College hosted its annual Critical Issues Symposium (CIS), a day dedicated to intentional engagement and critical reflection of current issues facing our society and world. Spearheaded by Hope’s Student Congress, with the help of the Provost and other campus offices, the event consisted of various talks revolving around the theme of “Growing Distrust of National Institutions.” 

An Anchor writer attended the keynote speech given by Chloe Valdary, which was titled “Enchantment: How to Thrive in Polarizing Times.” Valdary is a writer and business leader who created “The Theory of Enchantment” as a way to address the myriad forms of political, social and personal divisions within our country. Her current work revolves around teaching practices of compassionate antiracism in business settings, though she also has unique experiences in journalism and global affairs. 

The originality and beauty of the message she gave seemed to reflect the accumulation of her various experiences. The talk was surprisingly spiritual, in the full sense of the word: Valdary incorporated ideas from psychology, Biblical teaching, indigenous spirituality and historical precedent to explore the idea of enchantment–and why it is necessary for moving forward.

Valdary began the speech by inviting her audience to join her in singing “How Great Thou Art.” Starting from the simplest level, Valdary invited event attendees to contemplate the miracle of existence and the artwork and intricacy of creation. She explored how the elements of water, wind and fire inform what it means to be human. “Water teaches us that the only constant is change,” she stated, while wind “teaches us freedom.” 

The Anchor found her analysis of fire–and its association with anger–to be especially thought-provoking. In a time of seemingly constant anger in politics and on social media, it is easy to see anger as the problem. But Valdary re-defined it as “a signal that our needs have not been met, our value systems have not been honored.” She referenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s insight that anger can be channeled either constructively or destructively, just like fire. 

She summed up what it means to be human with a powerful statement: “I am the very frequency of love itself, and so, too, are you.”

This knowledge of the higher reality of love forms the basis of Valdary’s Theory of Enchantment. At the most basic level, the ultimate cause of all the world’s hatred, division and polarization is a lack of love. Valdary explained how the most hateful acts must first be acknowledged as an outward projection of inward suffering. “Hatred is a coping mechanism for pain.” 

Valdary’s talk was unexpectedly moving, reminding her audience of the necessity of radical compassion and the centrality of small acts of love that together can change things for the better. Audiences may have walked in expecting a list of steps on how to reduce political polarization, but Valdary’s talk returned them to a much deeper and more necessary place: a place of enchantment with the world as God’s gift. 

This all hinges on Christ’s counterintuitive command to become like little children. Like children, people need to love more deeply and more sincerely, they need to encounter the world from a place of curiosity and awe. Valdary’s theory seems to emphasize the power of such small choices, all together.

“It is easy to forget that life itself is a prayer,” said Valdary. In a time of national fragmentation and global conflict, as well as the smaller conflicts of our individual lives, Valdary’s talk provided a restorative and refreshing perspective. 

(Featured image source: Hope College Youtube)