“For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the Lord.” — Leviticus 16:30
Today, across the world, the Jewish people observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection.
At its heart, Yom Kippur invites an unflinching moral inventory:
What harm have I done?
Whom have I failed to see?
Where has my silence become complicity?
This is not shame work. It is soul work. It’s not experienced as a form of punishment but purification, a clearing out of the clutter that keeps us from living with integrity.
Yesterday, the world lost one of its most luminous voices of integrity and reverence. Dr. Jane Goodall, scientist, conservationist, and humanitarian, passed from this life. Her love for the Earth and all its creatures shaped generations of scientists, activists, and ordinary people. She believed in the creativity and compassion of the human spirit. She reminded us, again and again, that we are not above nature; we are a part of it. Her life was itself a long atonement: a returning to the sacred web of life, a repairing of what we’ve broken, a renewing of what we must protect.
Our world would do well to follow this sacred rhythm.
In an age of blame and vengeance, Yom Kippur teaches us to look inward before casting stones outward. It dares us to believe that change is still possible, that forgiveness is real, that we can begin again.
Though not all of us are Jewish, all of us are in need of atonement.
Our relationships cry out for mending.
Our systems are corrupt with injustice.
Our lives often veer from our deepest values.
Our politics pit neighbor against neighbor.
Our language wounds more than it heals.
Our economy rewards greed over generosity.
Our institutions prioritize power over people.
Our culture forgets the sacredness of the Earth.
Our attention fractures across a thousand distractions.
Our spirits grow numb from too much noise and not enough meaning.
So even if we do not fast today, may we pause. Even if we do not chant the liturgy, may we listen for the still, small voice. Even if we do not wear white, may we come clean—before God, before one another, and before ourselves.
This is the day to return: to repair what is broken, to renew what is holy, to begin again.
And perhaps, to carry forward Dr. Goodall’s legacy: to trust in our capacity to heal ourselves and the earth, and to remember that it is never too late to start.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What relationships or patterns in your life are calling out for repair or reconnection?
Where have you drifted from your core values, and what might it look like to return?
Who inspires you to live with greater compassion and care for the world—and how might you carry their legacy forward?
A Prayer for the Day
Atonement in the Key of Reverence
Holy One, On this day of reflection and reckoning, we come with open hands and full hearts. We bring the truth of our failures— the times we were silent when we should have spoken, the moments we turned away from the suffering of others, the harm we have done, knowingly and unknowingly. And yet, You receive us not with wrath, but with tenderness. You call us not to shame, but to repair. You whisper: Return. Begin again. We give thanks for the life of Jane Goodall, for her courage, her reverence, her tireless care for this fragile Earth. May her memory be a blessing and a call. May we take up the work she leaves in our hands. Renew in us the conviction that healing is always possible, that compassion is never wasted, and that love—applied faithfully and fiercely—can yet restore the world. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
The Long Walk Home
Today, take a walk—ideally outside, and ideally alone. As you walk, let the words “return, repair, renew” move through your breath like a mantra.
Let each step become a kind of atonement:
Return to your body.
Return to the Earth.
Return to the values that make you whole.
If you pass by trash, pick it up. If you pass by another person, offer a smile. If you see a tree, pause and say thank you.
This is your Yom Kippur liturgy, in motion.
Let it open you. Let it soften you. Let it call you back—to yourself, to your people, to the world you’re still helping to mend.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
NEW!!!!!!!!!!!! October 8-9, 2025, 7-8:30pm ET ONLINE Event- Counterpoint: A Response to Peter Thiel’s Antichrist - For four straight Mondays, tech billionaire Peter Thiel is convening a private series in the heart of Silicon Valley on his obsession with the Antichrist. This peculiar and troubling theological fixation is not just eccentric—it reveals how his version of political theology and apocalyptic imagination are shaping the worldview of some of the most powerful people in the world. We cannot remain silent. As a counterpoint, join me and Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox, along with Kamala Harris’ former Communication Director, Gil Duran, for a powerful counter-narrative rooted in wisdom, justice, and authentic spirituality. REGISTER HERE.
October 18, 2025 - No Kings 2.0 Protest - Scholars of authoritarianism teach us that we need 3.5% of the population rising up to disrupt the rise of authoritarians. The last protest had over 6 million people in the streets in the US (more around the world) which was one of the largest protest in US history. We need to double that number. So here we go again. The movement builds. See you on the streets.
October 20-24, 2025 - FREE Online 5-Day Summit on “Made for These Times: Spiritual Leadership for a World in Crisis.” Political extremism. Climate collapse. Cultural fragmentation. People of faith across the globe are asking: How do we lead with clarity, courage, and compassion in a time like this? REGISTER HERE.
October 23, 30, November 13, 20 2025, 7pm ET - In Search of a New Story: Reimagining What Comes Next, A 4-Part Online Series with Dr. Matthew Fox, Cameron Trimble, Ilia Delio, Diana Butler Bass, Caroline Myss and Luther Smith. We are living through the unraveling of many old stories—about who we are, why we’re here, and how we are meant to live together on this Earth. As these inherited narratives collapse under the weight of climate crisis, social fragmentation, and spiritual disconnection, the question becomes clear: What story will guide us now? REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
July 19-24, 2026 - Join me and my amazing co-facilitator, Victoria, on retreat in the back-country of beautiful Wyoming. The Art of Wilding is a 5-Day Expedition for Women Leaders. We will spend the week reconnecting to nature, exploring our inner landscapes for change, and engage the wisdom of spiritual teachings. Click here to learn more.
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.
If you are a leader or member of a congregation looking for consulting support in visioning, planning, hiring or staffing, please consider Convergence.
Thank you so much for writing about Jane Goodall and her wonderful inspiration.
Thank you, thank you, you are truly an inspiration to me first thing in the morning.