A Courageous Beginning, Far From The End
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:18
First, let’s pause and take a breath together.
This past weekend, across the country, more than 1,300 protests filled the streets with people of every generation, race, and background. I want to thank you—whether you marched yourself, made calls, or simply carried this movement in your heart. You showed up. You bore witness. You sent a clear message: We will not stand by while cruelty and incompetence dismantle our democracy.
The power of collective action is real. We felt it. For a moment, we were not isolated, anxious individuals, but part of something larger. We felt the pulse of solidarity, the spark of moral clarity. That matters.
Let’s be honest with each other: this is only the beginning.
The truth is, we’re facing an administration drunk on its own ideology and willing to burn the economy to the ground to prove a hollow point. These tariffs are already crashing markets, killing small businesses, inflating prices for working families, and deepening instability worldwide. No respected economist supports this reckless path. It is a self-inflicted wound, driven by arrogance and ignorance—and it’s hurting billions of people, including every one of us.
I know you’re feeling it. So am I.
Fear tightens our chests. Worry creeps in at the edges of our days. What will happen to our savings? Our jobs? Our communities? It feels personal because it is personal. They have made it so.
But here’s the deeper truth: fear is not the end of the story. In fact, it can be a summons.
Fear can sharpen our sense of what matters most. It can bind us closer to one another, not to wallow in despair, but to cultivate a fierce, durable hope—a hope not of wishful thinking, but of active participation in what is being born.
As James Baldwin once wrote, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
We are facing it.
We see the chaos for what it is. And we are choosing not to look away.
So let’s hold fast to the truth that courage is not the absence of fear—it is the decision to stand firm in love despite our fear. Let’s honor the bravery we witnessed this weekend, not as a victory lap, but as a brave first step on a long and necessary road.
We have much to lose. But we have even more to fight for.
And together, we will.
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where did you feel moments of courage or connection this past weekend?
What fears are you carrying today? Can you speak them aloud, even just to yourself?
What is one small act you can take today to stay grounded in courage and connection?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Fear and Fire
O God who walks with us in fear and in fire,
You know our trembling hearts.
You see our exhaustion and our fierce determination.
Thank you for the moments of connection this weekend,
for the courage that rose up in streets and sanctuaries.
But you also see the shadows that linger.
Strengthen our resolve, O God.
Give us the endurance for the long road ahead.
Teach us to turn fear into fuel for the common good,
and remind us daily that even in this storm, we are never alone.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
A Practice of Steadying Our Souls
As you move through this day, you might feel the weight of headlines pressing down. When you do, pause—wherever you are—and find the ground beneath your feet. Literally. Feel it. Take three slow breaths, and gently press your feet into the floor, into the earth, into something solid beneath you.
Let yourself remember: you are part of something grounded and enduring.
Now, place your hand over your heart and, if you feel led, whisper quietly: “I am not alone in this.”
With that small grounding, consider one loving act of resistance you can take today—call a friend, write to your representative, prepare a nourishing meal, or simply offer kindness to a stranger. Each small, steady act becomes part of the larger weave of repair.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
May 19-22, 2025 - Preaching and Worship FREE Online Summit: From war to genocide to a global climate crisis to a nation that perpetuates racism, misogyny, transphobia, and more from the highest office in the land, how do we prepare a sermon, a liturgy, a song, a prayer? Learn from some of our best preachers. REGISTER HERE.
June 4, 2025, 12pm ET - Jeff Chu has written a new book on a topic close to my heart: Soil! The title is “Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand.” I am so pleased to be interviewing him. Together, we’ll explore what it means to cultivate “good soil” in our lives, our communities, and our spiritual practices. I hope you will register. Your registration includes a copy of his new book.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more. Only one spot left!
August 11, 2025, 2pm ET - Dr. Andrew Root and I will be hosting a 6 part series on Spirituality in the Secular Age based on his research. The dates are August 11, 18, September 8, 15, and October 6, 13. Mark your calendars! More on this soon.
September 4, 4:30pm ET - I will be collaborating with the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology to host a conversation with Thomas Jay Oord on Open and Relational theology. It’s a FREE event. Register here.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Register here!
I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.
Your meditations have been spot on and quite remarkable in recent months. You identify the issues, build up our courage, and inspire hope. Thank you.
Thank you for this grounding. Your words are encouraging and very much appreciated. We need to stand together in this time of national crisis.