In the Beginning, It Was Good

A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble

“God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good.” — Genesis 1:31a

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Yesterday, Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean, leaving devastation in her wake. Jamaica and Cuba now join the growing list of places battered by storms that are stronger, faster, and more relentless than in decades past. Though hurricanes are not new to this region, what is new is their intensity, fueled by warmer ocean temperatures, themselves the result of a planet in distress.

This was the hottest year on record.

The Earth is groaning, and so are her people. But this is not a punishment. It is not divine wrath. It is cause and effect, rooted in the imbalance of our relationship with creation. We have lived as if we were separate from nature, not of it. We have consumed and extracted with a sense of entitlement rather than reverence. We have turned dominion into domination.

But the Genesis story tells another truth.

On the first days, God shaped earth, sea, sky. God filled the waters with fish, the air with birds, the land with creatures. With each act of creation, God paused and called it “good.” Only after the whole living system was in place did humans arrive. And it was only then, in the presence of the whole, that God called it “very good.”

This tells us something profound: we are not the pinnacle of creation, but part of its harmony. The sacredness of the world is not centered in us but revealed with us—when we live in right relationship.

To care for the Earth is not political. It is theological. It is an act of love. To rebuild from storms like Melissa is holy work. To reduce harm is sacred duty. To honor the Earth as kin is to remember who we truly are.

We are not rulers of creation. We are its caretakers, its companions, its children.

Let us remember that.

We are in this together,

Cameron

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Reflection Questions

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1. What does it mean to live in right relationship with the Earth today?

2. How do we move from viewing creation as a resource to be used to a community to be protected?

3. In what ways might your spiritual tradition call you into deeper ecological responsibility?

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A Prayer for the Day

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A Prayer for Mother Earth, Our Kin

Creator of Wind and Water,
Sky and Soil, Life and Light—

You wove this world with wisdom,
from the deep seas to the mountaintops.
You called it good. You called us good.
And together, you called us very good.

But we have forgotten.
We have forgotten that the birds are our siblings,
the oceans our elders,
the forests our sanctuary,
the creatures our kin.

Remind us, O God,
that holiness is not found only in sanctuary or scripture,
but in wetlands, roots, and coral reefs.
Make us fierce in our love for this Earth.
Make us faithful in our care.
Make us humble enough to learn again how to live in harmony.

Heal what we have harmed.
And help us rise as guardians of the world You still call good.

Amen.

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Spiritual Practice

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Touch the Soil

If you’re able, go outside today and place your hand on the earth. Touch the ground—dirt, grass, sand, stone—and pause. Breathe with the land. Let your body feel that you are not apart from it, but of it.

Whisper a blessing, or a simple “thank you.” If you feel grief, let it come. If you feel reverence, honor it.

Then ask: What does the Earth need from me today?

And listen.

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Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…

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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!

October 30 - December 4, 2025 - Online Course “Partnering with Life: Our Missing Ally” with Margaret Wheatley. Meg is launching a new course (and I will be tagging along). Partnering with life means much more than getting into nature to soothe our troubled selves. Life is waiting for us to join her as we struggle to maintain sanity through this dark and destructive time. Learn more and register here.

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.

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If you are a leader or member of a congregation looking for consulting support in visioning, planning, hiring or staffing, please consider Convergence.