The Courage to Unveil
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“You can kill me as soon as you like, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women.” — Táhirih, Persian poet and theologian
There are moments in history when a single act of defiance changes the course of the world. For Táhirih—poet, theologian, and revolutionary in the early Bahá’í movement—such a moment came when she removed her veil at a public gathering in 1848. In a society where women were silenced and shrouded, she stood unveiled, radiant, and unafraid. It was an act of spiritual courage that shook a nation—and became a signpost for generations to come.
But Táhirih’s story isn’t just about women’s liberation. It’s about the sacred, human yearning for emancipation—freedom from the systems and ideologies that dominate, dehumanize, and destroy. Her veil became a symbol not just of gendered oppression, but of the layers we all wear to survive in unjust systems. And her decision to cast it off? A call to every soul who has been told to stay silent, small, and invisible.
The mystic Howard Thurman once said, “There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself.” To live unveiled is to respond to that sound—to honor the truth of your being more than the comfort of conformity. It is a return to the sacred, to the voice of God echoing through your own aliveness.
This kind of courage doesn’t come from ego or bravado. As Richard Rohr reminds us, “The most courageous thing we will ever do is to bear humbly the mystery of our own reality.” It’s not the world that must change first—but us. Our clarity. Our presence. Our willingness to be seen, known, and counted—especially when the powers of Empire would rather we disappear.
Today, people of all genders, races and traditions are called to a similar threshold. We are asked: What veil have you worn to stay safe? What has it cost you? And are you ready—at last—to remove it?
The forces of domination are not abstract. They live in policies that erase our histories, in economies that extract our labor and land, in ideologies that teach us to fear each other. But the power of the unveiled soul—the person who says “no more”—is holy. It is fierce. It is love refusing to be domesticated.
Táhirih’s courage is not locked in the past. It lives in us now.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
When have you experienced a threshold moment in your own life? What did it teach you?
What old beliefs or assumptions might you need to release in order to make space for something more whole?
What does it mean for you to become a person who can hold uncertainty without rushing to resolve it?
A Prayer for the Day
Unveil Our Courage
Holy One of liberation,
Uncover the light we have buried for safety.
Call forth the voice we’ve silenced out of fear.
Give us the strength to stand unveiled—
Not for spectacle, but for sacred witness.
Where domination has cloaked our truth,
Let love strip away false coverings.
Let us rise radiant and free,
Carrying the courage of Táhirih in our bones.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Living Unveiled
Take a few moments to sit quietly and breathe deeply. When you're ready, ask yourself:
What “veil” have I worn to stay safe in the systems I inhabit?
What part of myself have I hidden, muted, or restrained to remain acceptable?
Write your responses in a journal. Be honest. Be tender.
Then, imagine yourself removing the veil—not in shame, but in dignity. What might it look like to live more fully into your truth today? It could be a conversation you've been avoiding, a risk you've been hesitant to take, or an act of self-expression you've been longing to claim. This is complicated because some veils are literally protecting your life, your safety. Some veils are needed. But so many are socialized into us, having served us in the past, but hold us back today. Let’s engage those.
Choose one small act of unveiling. Commit to it—not as performance, but as sacred alignment.
This is how courage becomes embodied.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
TODAY!!!!!!!! On June 4, 2025, from 7-8pm ET, join Brian McLaren, Matthew Fox, and me for an exploration of “In the Midst of Doom: Facing Our Moment and Finding Our Way” 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.
TODAY!!!!!!!! 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.
June 14, 2025 - On June 14—Flag Day—No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like. Find a protest in your city HERE. I will be out there with you!
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.
If you are a leader or member of a congregation looking for consulting support in visioning, planning, hiring or staffing, please consider Convergence.
I agree that having the courage to 'remove a veil', and speak truth to power and domination can come at immense personal cost - especially when that dominating power is the wider church. I learnt from experience that power is very quick to shut you down. The good news is that God is stronger than any of them - God does and will have a way to make things right.
Wow wow wow. Thank you. I was just walking this morning and feeling this call. It is by definition not containable, but rather a quickening, a sense of the great reality.