Let's Start With Some Good News...
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:21
• • •
These are days that test our spirits. Under the Trump administration, we are witnessing chaos, cruelty, and confusion. Our democratic institutions are under attack and failing, fear is being weaponized, and the most vulnerable among us are being treated as disposable. It would be easy to sink into despair, to believe that darkness has won. But the truth is, even in times like these—especially in times like these—goodness persists. Today, I want to begin the week by reminding us that many things are going WELL. Good still exists in the world…if you know where to look.
There are people, communities, and movements quietly and persistently working for justice, healing, and restoration. In many countries, we are well on our way to a robust clean energy economy,1 one that will provide jobs, cut emissions, and ease our assault on our beautiful planet. The Amazon rainforest, long on the brink of devastation, is seeing a turnaround. Under Brazil’s new leadership, deforestation is at its lowest level in five years, reversing years of destruction.2 In Africa, reforestation efforts have created an astonishing 400,000 square kilometers of new growth, with even more in the works.3
Waterways are also being restored. Forty-four countries have joined the Freshwater Challenge,4 a global effort to rehabilitate 300,000 square kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030. And in February, the European Union will formally adopt the Nature Restoration Law, an ambitious plan to heal forests, oceans, and natural habitats. As climate anxiety grows, so too does a commitment to care for this earth we call home. As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’,5 “Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home.” The work is not easy, but it is possible.
And there’s more. In communities across the U.S., grassroots organizations are stepping up to fill the gaps left by failing systems. Mutual aid networks are expanding, neighbors are supporting one another, and people are taking action to care for the most vulnerable. Libraries, long a quiet force for democracy and literacy, are experiencing a resurgence in civic engagement, providing free access to resources, safe spaces, and education in an era of disinformation.6 In the face of rising authoritarianism,7 global democratic movements are gaining momentum, with citizens in multiple nations standing up to defend free elections, human rights, and the rule of law. It’s too soon to say for sure, but perhaps even Americans are starting to wake up to the illegality of this new administration.
These moments of progress matter. They remind us that despair, while understandable, is not our only option. The Buddhist teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh once said, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”8 Hope is not blind optimism. It is not ignoring the very real challenges we face. It is the steady insistence that creativity is still possible, justice is still worth fighting for, kindness is still valued, and we are not alone in this work.
If we only focus on what is broken (which is soooo much right now), we risk missing the beauty of what is being repaired. There is a time for grief, a time for anger, and a time for action (we will have plenty in the coming days and months). But there is also a time for noticing—truly noticing and celebrating—the good that is still growing in this world. We do not deny the darkness. But we refuse to let it define us.
This is also, I should note, the only way to stay slightly sane, especially on a Monday in America.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where have you seen goodness at work in the world in the last few days?
How can you stay engaged in the struggle for justice without losing sight of hope?
In what small ways can you contribute to the restoration of what is broken?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Strength and Hope
God of Light,
When the world feels heavy, remind us that goodness still endures.
When we grow weary, strengthen our hands to keep building,
To keep planting, to keep showing up for love and justice.
Help us see the beauty still unfolding, the kindness still present,
The acts of courage and compassion that push back the dark.
May we be people who do not turn away from what is hard
But who also do not forget what is still good.
Renew our hope, O God.
Not shallow hope, but the kind that fuels action.
Not naïve hope, but the kind that refuses to give up.
And remind us always that we do not walk alone.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Noticing the Good
Practice the spiritual discipline of noticing. Take a few minutes to pause and reflect on where you see goodness, progress, or kindness in the world. It may be in the news, in your community, or even in a quiet, personal moment of beauty. Keep a record—a journal, a note on your phone, or even just a moment of gratitude before bed.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the weight of all that is broken, pause. Breathe. Look again. The world is still filled with people showing up for one another, with movements of justice gaining ground, with quiet acts of love that sustain us all. Let this practice remind you that despair is not our only option. Hope is not just a feeling; it is a way of seeing. And when we see the good, we strengthen our ability to build more of it.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
February 6, 7-8pm ET - Join my conversation “Mindful Healing: Tools For Inner Balance and Wellbeing” with Rev. Dr. Isa Gucciardi. Register here.
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!
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more. Only two spots 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.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Mark your calendars for now. More info is coming.
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://www.iea.org/commentaries/clean-energy-is-boosting-economic-growth
https://sentientmedia.org/amazon-deforestation-brazils-new-president/
https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/discussions/regreening-africa-recognized-one-seven-un-world-restoration-flagships_en
https://www.freshwaterchallenge.org/
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
https://www.snfdialogues.org/en/opinions/public-libraries-a-quiet-force-to-strengthen-democracy/
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/v4_democracy-playbook-2025.pdf
Quote from Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
I used parts of this as a topic for my AA meeting today. Thanks for this!
Cameron,
My morning prayer each day is, "This is the day that the Lord has made . . . don't screw it up!"
Phil Blackwell