A Fragile Peace, A Future Now Possible
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” —Isaiah 2:4
By the time this meditation reaches you, barring anything going wrong, twenty Israeli hostages held for two years in anguish, fear, and uncertainty will have been returned to their families. Israel is, in turn, releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Families on all sides are being reunited. These are miracles worth celebrating. These are moments worthy of our collective gratitude.
And still, this peace, fragile, hard-won, and desperately needed, arrives amid a shattered landscape. Entire communities in Gaza have been reduced to rubble by the Israeli government. Generations of grief now live in the bones of the people. Children have seen what no child should see. Thousands of people have been killed. The work of rebuilding will take years—perhaps lifetimes. But a window has opened. It is ours to tend.
Let us not mistake the silence of guns for the presence of peace. True peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, of safety, of neighborliness across lines drawn too long in blood and suspicion. For the sake of all, Israeli and Palestinian, child and elder, refugee and resident, we must pray that this pause becomes a pathway, that this moment becomes a movement.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, “Few are guilty, but all are responsible.” This is a call to moral imagination. None of us can undo what has already been lost, but we can choose what comes next. We can use our voices to insist that peace is possible, that justice is not naive, and that compassion is strength. We can pressure governments, support aid efforts, and refuse to accept the dehumanization of any people, anywhere.
Isaiah’s vision still waits to be fulfilled: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Let us be the ones who choose the tools of planting over the weapons of destruction. Let us become a people who learn peace.
War trains us to forget that every person is someone’s beloved. Peace invites us to remember. Let us remember. Let us work for a future in which every person can live with dignity, safety, and belonging.
The hostages are coming home. May this be the beginning of a new story, not the end of an old one.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
How do you hold celebration and sorrow together in your heart?
What does real peace look like—not just in far-off places, but in your daily life?
How might you participate in the rebuilding—of hope, of trust, of the human family?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer For The Long Work of Peace
O God who gathers what has been scattered, Today we celebrate the return of those who were lost. We give thanks for arms that enfold their beloveds again, For voices heard once more, For the fragile beginnings of peace. Yet we do not forget the ruins that remain— Homes turned to dust, hearts turned to grief. We do not forget the aching still carried By those who have no one returning. Make us brave enough to celebrate without closing our eyes. Make us tender enough to mourn without losing our way. Help us stretch our prayers toward justice, Our hands toward rebuilding, And our hearts toward the wide field of compassion Where all your children belong. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Lighting a Candle for the Future
Find a quiet space and light a candle. Let its small flame stand in for the light of peace—a light that flickers but does not go out.
As it burns, hold in your heart the image of a family reuniting after months of fear. Imagine their tears, their laughter, their silence. Give thanks for the miracle of return.
Then turn your attention to those still grieving, still suffering, still searching the rubble for meaning or survival. Hold their pain gently in your awareness. Resist the urge to resolve it—simply witness.
Close your practice by saying aloud:
“May this flame light a path through grief. May it kindle justice from the ashes of war. May peace come, and come to stay.”
Let the candle burn as long as you can safely tend it.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
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 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.
In gratitude for this day and this reflection.
Your daily meditations are timely, practical, and hopeful. They enlighten each day. Thank you.