Manufactured Chaos
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33
Let’s be honest: this is exhausting. It’s disorienting. It’s not just you. It’s not just in your head.
This level of manufactured chaos by Donald Trump and his regime — the constant uncertainty, the erratic reversals, the “on-again, off-again” announcements from leaders who treat global markets like casino chips — does real harm. To economies, yes. But more intimately, it harms bodies and hearts and relationships. It wears down the soul.
This week, the financial whiplash has been staggering. For days, we watched as over $6 trillion in global wealth evaporated in a matter of hours. People all over the world held their breath, wondering what this would mean for their retirements, their small businesses, their grocery bills, their jobs, their future. And then — just like that — the threat of massive tariffs was postponed, as though this were all some game of brinkmanship rather than the lives of billions of people.1 Those “on the inside” who knew that Trump was going to make this reversal likely just made millions of dollars.
It is not a game. And it is not without consequence.
Chaos is not harmless. It is a form of violence — a strategy of domination and control. When people are disoriented, they are easier to manipulate. When communities are stressed, they fracture. When systems are overwhelmed, they break.
In his wisdom, Richard Rohr says: “If we do not transform our pain, we will always transmit it. Always someone else has to suffer because we don’t know how to suffer; that’s what it comes down to.”2
What we are living through is pain imposed by Trump’s narcissism. It is the chaos of leaders who refuse to take responsibility, who choose spectacle over stewardship. It trickles down into our bodies, our relationships, our communities. We carry it in our clenched jaws and tightened shoulders. We carry it in our weary hearts.
This is also true: While we cannot always stop the chaos around us, we can refuse to let it define us. We can become steady in the storm. This is not just resilience as a buzzword. It is spiritual practice.
It is the work of breathing deeply when fear grips us.
It is the choice to care for our bodies and our relationships.
It is the quiet courage of refusing to mirror the madness of those in power.
Chaos is contagious, but so is calm. In these turbulent times, you are not powerless. You are not alone. We have ancestors and teachers who walked through even darker storms, and they remind us to breathe, strengthen our hearts, and care for our neighbors.
While chaos shouts, Love whispers — and endures.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
How is the chaos of this moment showing up in your body, your mind, your spirit?
What are some practices or relationships that help you stay grounded amidst external turmoil?
How might you become a source of steadiness for others right now?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Steadiness in the Storm
O Spirit of Calm within the storm,
Anchor us when the winds rage.
Hold us fast when fear howls at our door.
Steady our breath.
Steady our steps.
Steady our souls.
Even when leaders act recklessly,
Even when the ground feels like it is shifting beneath us,
Your love is still the bedrock beneath it all.
Strengthen our hearts, not to harden them, but to make them brave.
Let us be people of peace in times of panic,
People of care in times of cruelty,
People of clarity in times of confusion.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Finding Steadiness in the Body
When chaos feels too loud to bear, your body can become your sanctuary.
Today, take five minutes to ground yourself in simple, steady movement. Step outside if you can. Place your bare feet on the earth. Feel its solidness beneath you. If that’s not possible, simply sit in a chair and press your feet firmly into the floor.
Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling your breath fill your belly. Exhale just as slowly, releasing tension with the breath. As you breathe, repeat softly to yourself:
I am here. I am steady. I am held.
Let the rhythm of your breath anchor you. Let the connection to the earth remind you: there is stability deeper than any storm. You belong to this world, not to the chaos of empire.
Carry this grounding with you throughout the day. When you feel the panic rise again, return to your breath and your body. This is resistance. This is resilience.
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.
Is “Manufactured Chaos” an intentional riff from “Manufactured Consent”? It sure fits perfectly! Thank you for the reminders to really attend to our hearts, to manage our attention, and to focus on loving relationship. It has always been time for building radical beloved community, but now we will see this even more clearly, even though we will be doing so in increasingly chaotic circumstances. Thank you again for the careful and caring reflections, practices, questions, and prayers.
Thank you.. beautiful and helpful