“In a place where there are no people, strive to be a person.” — Pirkei Avot 2:5
There is a midrash, a Jewish teaching story, that tells of a town under siege. The people, frightened and confused, look to their elders for wisdom. Most advise silence and patience. “Stay out of sight,” they say. “Don’t provoke. Don’t speak. This, too, shall pass.”
But one young rabbi refuses. Each day, he stands beside the wall at sunrise and sings psalms aloud. He bakes bread for those who have none. He speaks the truth.
One of the elders asks, “Do you think you can change the world with these small acts?”
The rabbi replies, “I am not standing here to change the world. I am standing here so the world does not change me.”
That is our challenge now.
With every news cycle, we’re asked to absorb a little more cruelty, a little more absurdity. The government is still shut down, leaving people to go hungry. Last week we learned the administration is moving to overrule any state laws that may protect consumers’ credit reports from medical debt.1 They also announced restrictions on accepting refugees next year, limiting is to 7500 people, mostly white South Africans.2 Refugees are now turned away unless they meet a racist standard of acceptability.
This isn’t just about policy. It’s about who we become in response.
Authoritarians often begin by convincing people that their cruelty is normal—and eventually, divinely ordained. It’s a dangerous lie. History has seen it before.
But history has also seen people, ordinary people, who refused to be remade by fear, who chose truth over safety, kindness over comfort, clarity over compliance.
Spiritual traditions call us not to passivity, but to presence. Not to rage, but to rootedness. To remember that every moment offers us the chance to stand near the wall and refuse to forget who we are.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What helps you stay grounded in your values when the world feels upside-down?
What “small act” might you take today to refuse the normalization of cruelty?
What does moral courage look like in your daily life right now?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Staying True
Holy Presence, When we are tempted to turn away, Give us strength to turn toward. When the winds of injustice howl, Plant our feet in compassion. When we wonder if our voice matters, Remind us: We are not alone. Let us stand—not to change the world in a day, But to stay true to the world we long to build. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Letters to the Future
Each day this week, write a short note or prayer—not to yourself, but to someone in the future.
It could be:
A grandchild.
A young activist not yet born.
A refugee child waiting at a border.
A stranger living in a world you’ll never see.
In your note, tell them one thing you stood for this week. Just one thing. Tell them why you chose it. Tell them what it cost. Tell them what it changed in you.
You might begin your notes like this:
“I wasn’t sure it would matter, but I showed up anyway…”
“They tried to make us forget who we are, but I remembered for you…”
“This week, I spoke up. This week, I stayed soft. This week, I chose the long arc…”
Place your notes in a jar, a journal, or on your altar. Each one becomes a quiet act of resistance against despair. A reminder that your integrity now is a gift to those who come after.
This is not about doing everything. It’s about remembering who you are and letting that shape the world, one sacred word at a time.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
October 23, 30, 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.
https://apnews.com/article/medical-debt-cfpb-fcra-equifax-experian-trans-union-fdb5ad61e4ca0f18943045d314dd7b3b
https://apnews.com/article/refugees-admissions-cap-immigration-trump-administration-197a8ef1c9c219ce6167da4aba3f5a6e
Aaaah! Thank you. I hear your message. Thank you.
Who are we, become,
in response to unjust wrongs?
How do we show up?
...
Cruelty, not normal,
not divinely ordained, not us.
May it not change us.