The Dance That Made the World
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“In the dance of Skywoman, gratitude is the thread that weaves the world into being.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass
A note: This week, I’m away leading my Wyoming Expedition—off-grid with ten amazing humans and over 80 beautiful horses. Since I won’t be writing these meditations in “real time” as I usually do, I’m sharing with you some of the stories I’ll be telling around campfires, on the shores of alpine lakes, and at the edges of high cliffs. These are stories that journey with us—quiet companions that do their work over time as we carry them within. I hope you enjoy them.
We begin our storytelling week with one of my favorites, told most recently by Robin Wall Kimmerer in her book, Braiding Sweetgrass.1 This book is a sacred text, one that should be required reading for all of us. Kimmerer opens her book with the story of “Skywoman Falling.” It goes like this…
In Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) mythology, there is a beautiful origin story about how humans came to help shape the world.
Long ago, the earth was covered in water. The geese, turtles, otters, swans, and fish of all kinds lived in harmony. One night, they looked to the sky and saw something unexpected: a woman falling, a small bundle clutched in her hands.
The geese took flight, knowing this sky-woman was not made for the sea. They caught her in their wings before she could crash into the water, but they could not carry her long. An old turtle surfaced and offered his shell for her to rest upon. Seeing that she needed land, the animals held a council and decided to bring her mud from the bottom of the water.
One by one, the deep divers tried—loon, otter, beaver—but the water was too deep. Some did not return. At last, only the muskrat was left. He was the smallest and weakest among them, but he bravely dove. He was gone a long time. Finally, his limp, still body floated to the surface, a small clump of mud clutched in his paw.
Skywoman took the mud reverently and spread it gently on the back of the turtle. Moved by the courage and generosity of these creatures, she began to dance in gratitude. With each step, the mud spread and grew—first into an island, then into the great lands of the earth. From her bundle, she planted the Tree of Life, and from its roots came grasses, herbs, fruits, and trees—enough for all beings to flourish.
It was the alchemy of the animals’ gifts and the woman’s gratitude that created the world we now inhabit.
Today, we are living through our own time of falling and rising - a genesis time. So much of our world has been built on unsustainable and unjust ways of living. And now, as those systems unravel, we find ourselves in the in-between—a place not unlike Skywoman’s descent. We have not yet landed. But even in freefall, we can choose to carry the seeds of life.
The question we now face is this: What kind of world are we creating—within ourselves and around ourselves?
This is not just a question of politics or policy. It is a question of spirit. Are we awake to what has been lost? Are we moved by what we still love? Are we willing to build something beautiful with what remains?
The dance of creation begins not with power, but with gratitude. It grows not from conquest, but from mutual care. As Skywoman reminds us, we are not alone in this world. We are guests—and creators. Receivers—and givers. Fallen—and rising.
What we make next will depend not only on our strength, but on our willingness to be moved by love.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What are you bringing with you into this season of life—what memories, values, or seeds are you carrying?
What forms of gratitude or generosity might help shape the world you long to see?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for the Midair
Spirit of the waters, Keeper of the seeds, Guide us as we fall into the unknown. Help us remember that even in descent, we can carry life. Teach us to trust the shell that holds us, the small hands that offer mud, the ancient dance of thankfulness that grows the earth. May we plant wisely, build justly, and dance with the courage of those who came before us. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Dancing Creation Into Being
Today, find a quiet moment and a space—inside or outside—where you can move freely. Take a few breaths and imagine Skywoman’s descent. Picture the geese rising, the turtle surfacing, the muskrat diving, the seed bundle held close to her chest.
Now imagine yourself on the turtle’s back. You have been saved. You are holding something precious. You have been given a gift—and you are being invited to give one in return.
Let your body respond. Begin to move—not to perform, but to express your own dance of gratitude. This is not about how it looks. It is about how it feels. Let the soles of your feet remember the ground is holy. Let your arms carry offerings of care. Let your breath become a prayer of thanks.
When you are done, kneel or sit and place your hands on the earth, a floor, or your own heart. Ask yourself: What gift am I holding? What is mine to offer?
Then take one small action this week as your offering:
Plant a seed.
Write a note of thanks.
Care for an animal or elder.
Tend to a small patch of soil.
Share a meal.
Protect something vulnerable.
Pray with your feet by showing up in community.
Creation, as Skywoman showed us, is not a one-time event. It is a daily act of co-creation. Of gratitude. Of generosity.
You are part of the dance.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
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. Register here!
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!
October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 2025, 7pm ET - In Search of a New Story: Reimagining What Comes Next, A 4-Part Online Series with Matthew Fox, Cameron Trimble, and Special Guests. 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 OPENING SOON!
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.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-robin-wall-kimmerer/16712606?ean=9781571313560&next=t
My heart feels better for reading this. Maybe I won’t live to see the rising, but I hope I carry seeds for the future.
Such a positive, enouraging story for the SPIRIT of this time! Thank you! I've shared on FB, as I often do with your excellent Meditations. Blessings for your time in Wyoming, and for all who are joining you. (I grew up in Nebraska--part of the "Big Sky" area of our country.)