Acts of Courage
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
"We are to brave great dangers for great things, for instance the common welfare, justice, divine worship, and so forth." – Thomas Aquinas
There are moments when life presents us with a choice: to stand firm in our integrity or to shrink back into silence. For many, the temptation to compromise is understandable—security, reputation, relationships, and even livelihood can be at stake. But then there are those who refuse to betray their conscience, who choose courage over comfort, truth over self-preservation.
Thursday of last week, Attorney Danielle Sasson reached such a moment. Faced with pressure to act against her ethics by dismissing the case against the NYC Mayor Eric Adams in what was clearly a “quid-pro-quo” demanded by the Trump administration, she chose to resign. Five others followed her, resigning rather than lending their name to what they believed was wrong.1
Then Friday of last week, senior Justice Department officials in New York and Washington followed suit, in a blazing indictment of acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove’s order. The New York Times reports that “Mr. Bove gave them an hour to make up their minds. The nearly 20 lawyers on the video call were unnerved, aware that the decisions might eviscerate their ranks and damage the department’s credibility. Some had already written their resignation letters. But a senior member of the team volunteered to sign, in part to spare his younger colleagues….After 30 minutes of discussion, Ed Sullivan, a longtime prosecutor in the section, offered to sign Mr. Bove’s motion. Doing so would protect the other lawyers.”2
Their decision will cost them—perhaps in ways we cannot fully see. But it will also set them free.
Moral courage is not abstract. It has consequences. It disrupts. It unsettles. And yet, it is the only path to true integrity.
Faith has always demanded this kind of courage. The prophets knew it when they stood before kings and called for justice. The disciples knew it when they chose Jesus’ teachings over empire. Mystics have known it in every age—those who gaze deeply into love cannot help but defend it.
We are all called to be both prophets and mystics. The mystic in us is the lover, the one who says "Yes"—to life, to goodness, to what is sacred. The prophet in us is the guardian, the one who says "No"—to what threatens love and justice. A life of faith requires both. Without love, our resistance turns brittle. Without resistance, our love turns shallow.
The world will always make courage costly. It will reward silence and punish truth-telling. It will tempt us with the false security of compliance. But Aquinas reminds us that some things are worth the risk—justice, the common good, the sacred.
So, when the moment comes—and it will—where will you stand?
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
When have you had to take a stand, even when it cost you something?
In what areas of your life is your conscience asking you to be braver?
How can you cultivate both the mystic’s love and the prophet’s courage in your daily life?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Courage
O God of justice,
O Spirit of truth,
You whisper in the quiet places of my heart:
Do not be afraid.
Give me the courage to be faithful—
not to comfort, but to conscience,
not to power, but to love,
not to silence, but to the cry for justice.
Let me not be so afraid of loss
that I lose myself.
Let me not be so eager to belong
that I betray what is sacred.
Make me bold enough to say "No"
when the world asks me to bow to injustice.
And tender enough to say "Yes"
to the beauty, the love, the sacredness of life.
Walk with me when I am afraid.
Hold me fast when the cost is high.
And remind me—
that the truth, in the end, will set us free.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Today, consider what it means for you to stand in both love and resistance.
A Courage Inventory – Take ten minutes to reflect on the moments in your life when you have acted with courage. Write them down. What gave you strength in those moments? How did it feel afterward?
A Small Act of Defiance – Today, practice courage in a tangible way. It may be as simple as correcting misinformation in a conversation, supporting someone who has taken a stand, or refusing to participate in a culture of fear. Even the smallest act strengthens the muscle of integrity.
A Prayer for Those Who Take Risks – Identify someone who has shown moral courage—perhaps a public figure or someone in your own community. Offer a prayer for their strength and protection. If possible, send them a note of encouragement. Those who stand for justice often feel alone. Let them know they are not.
Root Yourself in a Source of Strength – Courage is not just about willpower; it is about being grounded in something deeper than fear. Whether through meditation, scripture, music, or nature, spend time today connecting with what steadies your soul.
Let today be a day of courage—one choice, one word, one step at a time.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
February 27, 2025, 12-1:30pm - Margaret Wheatley and I are offering a 4 or 8-session course called “Are We Made for These Times?” If you know Meg’s work, it’s going to be extraordinary. If you want the deep dive, the 8-session course is for you. You can read about the shorter 4-session course here. Scholarships are available. I sooooo hope you can be a part of this!
March 4, 2025, 7-8:30pm - Dr. Matthew Fox and I are scheming a series that we are calling “From Darkness to Dawn: Spiritual Courage and Political Action in the Age of MAGA.” Modern mystic, Mirabai Starr, will be our guest on March 4! Andrew Harvey on March 11! The amazing Bishop Yvette Flunder on March 18! REGISTER HERE!
April 1, 2025 - Rabbi Benjamin Ross and I are collaborating on a new leadership program called “All Together Now: A Collaborative Cohort for Jewish Congregational Leadership Teams.” You can read about the program here.
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.
https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-us-attorney-0395055315864924a3a5cc9a808f76fd
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/politics/justice-department-trump-eric-adams.html