Flying in Unreliable Winds
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“The wind blows where it chooses… you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” —John 3:8
Some years ago, while preparing to land a plane at an airport in Georgia, I listened carefully to the weather report broadcast over the ATIS frequency. The message crackled through: ceiling 2500 broken, visibility 10 miles, winds… “unreliable.”
I chuckled then, because it was such an honest description—not just of the skies, but of life itself.
We’re flying through unreliable winds, the kind that jolts you awake and shakes your bearings loose. It’s the kind stirred up by leaders who sow chaos to avoid accountability—who crush dissent, manipulate markets, and treat human lives like pawns in a power game. The Trump administration’s policies—erratic, punitive, and lawless—have sent shockwaves through financial markets, global alliances, and our trust in basic democratic function.
The damage isn’t theoretical. It’s personal. Retirement accounts plummet. Prices climb. Rights vanish. Laws are defied. Communities are criminalized. The headlines aren’t just exhausting—they’re terrifying.
So, how do we respond in such unreliable winds?
In aviation, when a pilot hits turbulence, the worst thing they can do is grip the yoke too tightly. A rigid hand makes the aircraft less stable. Good pilots learn to “fly loose.” Not carelessly—but responsively, attuned to the movement of the air, holding the controls gently, making thoughtful, steady adjustments as the wind shifts.
We need that same wisdom now. Make no mistake: we must act. The collapse of democracy is not theoretical—it is unfolding. Our resistance must be grounded, courageous, decisive. But if we try to fight the storm by controlling every gust, we will burn out or break apart.
Instead, we must move with a Spirit that is both fierce and flexible—resilient enough to rise from every crucifying blow. Holy Week reminds us: the empire always chooses domination. But resurrection isn’t born from brute force. It’s born from fidelity, from courage, from the refusal to abandon love even in the darkest hour.
The winds are unreliable. But the Spirit is not. The Spirit moves in and through us, bending without breaking, guiding us not back to safety—but forward to liberation.
So take a breath. Loosen your grip. Keep your eyes on the horizon. Act with clarity, not panic. The storm is real, but so is our resilience. We were made for this flight.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What When the “winds” of life feel unreliable—socially, politically, economically—how do you tend to react? What is your “grip” instinct?
What does “flying loose” look like for you—not as passivity, but as grounded, flexible engagement with this moment?
A Prayer for the Day
Spirit of the Turbulent Skies
Spirit of Wind and Flame,
You move where you will—
sometimes like a whisper through leaves,
other times like a gale shaking the ground beneath us.
We confess: we are afraid.
We want to grip tight, to control, to retreat into safety.
But you call us to steadier courage.
Teach us how to move with your grace—
not rigid and fearful,
but grounded, responsive, alert to your presence.
When the winds are wild, be our still point.
When the skies grow dark, keep our hearts soft and strong.
When chaos tries to unravel what is just and true,
help us hold to the deeper currents of your love.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Flying Loose
This week, practice embodied flexibility as a way to deepen spiritual resilience:
Body Awareness: Take five minutes each morning to scan your body. Where are you gripping—jaw, shoulders, chest, belly? Breathe gently into those places, inviting softness and space.
Responsive Posture: Choose one area of your life that feels turbulent—news, relationships, work. Rather than reacting immediately, practice pausing. Breathe. Then ask: “What is a response that aligns with love, courage, and clarity?”
Touch the Ground: Each day, literally touch the earth—your garden, a patch of grass, a pot of soil. Let your body remember its connection to something older and steadier than the headlines. Let the ground teach you how to root yourself in this moment, even as the winds swirl.
Let your flight this week be one of trust and gentle adjustments—not because the storm is small, but because the Spirit within you is steady.
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.
I needed to hear that we were made for this flight.
Excellent perspective and advice, Cameron. Thank you.