In the Hands of the Dancer
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent, when they are not.” - Thích Nhất Hạnh
We finish the week continuing our meditation on the beginning and endings of worlds.
In the Hindu tradition, there is a powerful image of Nataraja—Shiva as the cosmic dancer. In this form, Shiva dances the universe into existence, sustains its rhythms, and ultimately dances it into dissolution so that a new creation can emerge. This is not destruction out of rage or punishment. It is the sacred rhythm of transformation.
Under one foot, Shiva presses down on the demon of ignorance. In one hand, he holds fire—the fire of dissolution. In another, he holds the drum—the beat of creation. His gesture says: Do not be afraid.
I think of this story, as we watch so much change around us, so many systems falter. Economies quake. Democracies buckle. Relationships fracture. It can feel like everything is on fire. But maybe we are not in the end. Maybe we are in the dance.
What if what feels like collapse is, in some cosmic sense, choreography?
Not fated, not fixed—but sacred. Not safe, but meaningful.
The question is not whether the world is changing. It is. The question is whether we will resist the rhythm—or join it with grace.
Will we cling to the structures being undone, or will we become co-dancers in this difficult, generative turning?
The Jewish mystic Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said, “All the world is a narrow bridge. The important thing is not to be afraid.”1 Maybe even more than courage, what’s asked of us now is attunement—to listen for the rhythm beneath the chaos. To trust that the fire clears space for the drumbeat. To believe that even as the world burns, a new one can be born.
Even if we cannot yet see what’s coming next, we can prepare the ground. We can loosen our grip on what no longer serves. We can honor the grief. We can notice the joy that still flickers. We can move with the tempo of truth, not the panic of fear.
Do not be afraid, says the dancer.
The world is being remade.
And somehow, we are part of the dance.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What in your life—or in the world around you—feels like it’s breaking down right now? Can you imagine that as part of a dance, not just a collapse?
Are there stories, identities, or systems you’ve clung to for safety that now feel like they no longer serve?
What would it feel like to move with the rhythm of change instead of resisting it? What small step could help you align with the movement of something new?
A Prayer for the Day
The Rhythm Beneath the Flames
O Great Dancer of the Universe,
You who move in circles older than time,
We feel the trembling in our bones,
The shifting underfoot,
The endings that have arrived uninvited.
Teach us to trust the burning—not as punishment,
But as sacred clearing.
Help us let go of what no longer belongs to us:
The myths of control,
The stories of supremacy,
The fears that keep our hearts from moving.
May we find the rhythm beneath the flames.
May we soften our grip,
Find our breath,
And dare to dance,
Even in the fire.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Dancing with What’s Ending
Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed for a few minutes. Sit comfortably, or stand if you’re able. Close your eyes.
Take a few deep breaths and tune in to what feels heavy, disoriented, or uncertain in your life. Let the feelings come. Name them silently. Grief. Fear. Resistance. Let them be real.
Now, picture the image of Shiva as Nataraja: the dancing figure surrounded by a ring of flame. See the fire as both an ending and a beginning. A clearing. A rhythm. A sacred movement that you are part of.
Begin to gently move your body. This is not a dance for performance—it’s a way of saying yes to change. Let your hands sway. Let your shoulders shift. Let your breath lead you. This is your act of loosening. Of letting go. Of moving with what is.
As you move, you might whisper: “I will not fear the fire. I will dance into the new.”
Stay with it for as long as you like.
When you’re ready, return to stillness. Thank your body. Thank the fire. And return to your day—not with all the answers, but with just enough rhythm to take the next step.
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.
NEW!!! On June 4, 2025, from 7-8pm ET, Join Brian McLaren, Matthew Fox and me for an exploration of “Life After Doom” inspired by Brian’s latest book. In an age of climate crisis, political unraveling, and societal collapse, many are asking: What now? What’s worth doing when the systems around us are failing? How do we find meaning beyond hope as we’ve known it? Join us and we will explore together. 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.
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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kol_Ha%27Olam_Kulo
What beautiful imagery and energy you gift us with in this time of major transition!