“Even in the midst of suffering, you can touch the wonders of life.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
There is a story in the Zen tradition:
A man is being chased by a tiger. He runs until he reaches the edge of a cliff. With the tiger just steps behind him, he climbs down a vine hanging over the edge. As he dangles, he looks down and sees another tiger waiting below.
Two mice—one white, one black—begin to gnaw at the vine.
Just then, the man notices a wild strawberry growing from the cliffside.
He plucks it.
And eats it.
How sweet it is…
We are living between two tigers.
Behind us, the hungry past: the violent legacy of white supremacy, nationalism, stolen land, and exploited labor. It chases us still, snarling with rage that its dominance is being questioned.
Below us, an uncertain future: climate collapse, political repression, and rising authoritarianism. We feel its weight pulling on every tomorrow.
And the vine we cling to—our fragile democracy, our collective norms, our institutions—is being gnawed by time. The mice don’t hate us; they simply do what mice do. But the vine frays just the same.
And yet: there is a strawberry.
This is not a story about giving up. It is a story about awakening. It does not ask us to deny the danger. It asks us to notice that joy is still possible, even here. Even now.
To pluck the strawberry is not escapism. It is resistance.
Joy, in this moment, is a form of defiance. It says: I will not let the systems of harm dictate the totality of my being. I will not wait until all is safe to love the world. I will not delay my humanity until the headlines improve.
There are many who will say this moment is too dangerous to rest, too urgent to delight, too fragile for presence. But urgency without grounding turns into panic. Panic is what authoritarianism feeds on.
When millions took to the streets this past weekend in silly costumes and inflatable suits, it was not naïveté. It was wisdom. Protest is not only about outrage. It is about collective embodiment. It is about remembering that we are not disembodied opinions or anonymous algorithms. We are flesh, breath, and presence.
In Zen, awakening is not the absence of suffering; it is the capacity to remain awake to the whole truth. The suffering. The sweetness. The vine. The mice. The strawberry.
So take your breath. Take your joy. Take your stand.
We are dangling over the edge, and yet we are here. Still reaching for life.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where in my life do I feel caught “between the tigers”?
What strawberry—what sweetness—is being offered to me, even now?
How might I practice presence without denying danger?
A Prayer for the Day
A Blessing Between the Tigers
Spirit of the Present Moment, You who dwell not in abstraction but in immediacy— Be with us now. When fear claws at our backs, When dread waits in the depths, When the thread we cling to frays— Still, let us not miss the miracle. Let us taste the sweetness Of laughter in the streets, Of songs at the edge of collapse, Of presence—pure, fierce, and alive. Remind us that awakening doesn’t mean escape. It means showing up with open eyes And choosing love anyway. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
The Strawberry in Your Day
Today, notice one thing that feels sweet. Not perfect. Not escapist. Not performative. Just something that reminds you: I am still here. I am still human. I still care.
Hold it.
Bless it.
Let it nourish you for the work ahead.
Resistance doesn’t only live in speeches and protests. It also lives in moments of reclaimed joy, rest, and connection.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
October 20-24, 2025 - FREE Online 5-Day Summit on “Made for These Times: Spiritual Leadership for a World in Crisis.” Political extremism. Climate collapse. Cultural fragmentation. People of faith across the globe are asking: How do we lead with clarity, courage, and compassion in a time like this? REGISTER HERE.
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.
What a beautiful message for this morning. Nothing is sweeter than a wild strawberry. Here is a song I am waking up to these days called Beautiful Day...
https://open.spotify.com/track/5xRGn3vg8EfDJGuIf9GBt7?si=WXmhHHvnRbGhd9rJGZ-IpA&context=spotify%3Asearch%3Abeautiful%2Bday&nd=1&dlsi=ba8fd33465434d69
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful message. I will start looking for more strawberries.