Spiritual Work, Civic Ground

A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble

Nov 05, 2025

“While injustice is the worst of sins, despair is the most dangerous; because when you are in despair you care neither about yourself nor about others.” —St. Thomas Aquinas

Illustration by Sirin Thada — Artist: Sirin Thada

Democracy, at its best, is not merely a political system. It is a spiritual practice, a way we live out our sacred obligation to one another.

Yesterday, across the United States, tens of thousands of elections were held. Millions of people cast ballots. Volunteers stood in the cold. Voters showed up between shifts, with children in tow, and despite long lines.

The results are telling: despite the noise, cruelty, and confusion of the current Administration, the moral compass of many communities held. People chose compassion. People chose inclusion. People chose to protect the vulnerable. In other words, they chose the teachings at the heart of every faith tradition.

We are reminded again and again: we are our sibling’s keeper. We are called to love the stranger. We are charged with building a world where the hungry are fed, the oppressed are freed, and swords are beaten into plowshares.

These values don’t live in books alone. They live in us. They live in the way we show up—in protest, in prayer, in policy, and yes, in the voting booth.

There is nothing passive about a spiritual life. It requires courage. Discernment. Action. As St. Ignatius of Loyola taught, we are to be “contemplatives in action,” living lives so rooted in love that our public lives become an extension of our prayer.

While despair tempts us to retreat, our sacred texts urge us toward engagement.

To bind up the brokenhearted.
To repair the breach.
To seek the welfare of the city.

The good news is: many people did just that yesterday.

The harder news: we’re not done yet, but we are well on our way.

We are in this together,

Cameron

Reflection Questions

What spiritual values most inform the way I engage with the world?
Where have I seen divine love breaking through in unexpected places?
How is my soul inviting me to take faithful action in this season?

A Prayer for the Day

A Prayer For Holy Courage in the Public Square

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

God of all people,
You formed us for life together—
Not in silos, not in silence,
But in bold acts of justice and love.

When the world grows weary,
When cruelty wears the mask of policy,
When lies cloud what is true,
Strengthen our hearts.

Let our actions reflect our prayers.
Let our votes reflect your vision.
Let our lives reflect your call
To love mercy, seek justice, and walk humbly.

Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Let Your Faith Speak

Choose one moment from the past 24 hours where you saw love, justice, or truth take root. Name it. Bless it. Let it strengthen you.

Then, write a short prayer or statement that expresses how your faith calls you to engage with the world around you. Speak it out loud. Let it live in your body.

If you feel brave, share it with a friend, in a congregation, or on social media. Let your faith be visible, not as performance, but as witness.

We are not powerless. We are sacred agents of change.

Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…

THIS WEEK! November 3 - 6, 2025 - FREE Online Digital Ministry Summit - Join us for four days of conversations from over a dozen digital ministry leaders, including the Convergence Digital Ministry Senior Fellows. REGISTER HERE.

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.

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