The Unfinished Road
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”— Matthew 11:3
For Christians, there is a small detail in the Advent story that often gets overlooked: even John the Baptist wasn’t sure.
This is the same John who leapt in the womb. The same one who thundered about repentance and prepared the way. The same one who baptized Jesus and proclaimed that the kingdom was near. And yet, when John finds himself imprisoned—cut off from the crowds, the river, the certainty of his role—he sends word to Jesus with a question that reveals his human vulnerability in its honesty:
Are you the one… or should we wait for another?
Advent lives inside that question.
It is the season that admits how fragile certainty can be when the world does not change as quickly as we hoped. When justice stalls. When violence persists. When the story we thought we were part of takes an unexpected turn.
John’s question is not faithlessness. It is faith under pressure.
Advent does not ask us to pretend we are confident when we are not. It does not demand that we silence our doubts or polish our hope into something inspirational. Instead, Advent gives us permission to name the ache that lives between promise and fulfillment.
Jesus’ response to John is telling. He does not offer a theological explanation or a strategic plan. He points instead to what is happening:
The blind see. The lame walk. The poor hear good news.
This matters now.
We live in a moment when many of us are asking John’s question again, not only about God, but about the future. About democracy. About peace. About whether goodness is strong enough to hold against cruelty that feels increasingly unrestrained.
Advent does not resolve those questions for us. It teaches us how to live faithfully inside them. To keep walking the road even when it feels unfinished. To trust that meaning is still being made, even when the evidence is partial. To resist the temptation to demand certainty as a condition for commitment.
The road to Bethlehem was not clearly marked. It wound through fear, displacement, and risk. Still, people walked it, without knowing how the story would end.
That is Advent faith.
It’s not about confidence without doubt or hope without grief. It’s the courage to keep moving toward the light we can see, trusting that more will be revealed in time.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where are you asking John’s question right now—Is this really the way?
What has not unfolded as you hoped or expected this year?
What would it mean to keep walking the road without demanding certainty?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer For the Unfinished Journey
God of promise and patience, We bring you our questions, not as failures of faith, but as honest companions on the road. When the future feels unclear, steady our steps. When hope feels fragile, help us notice what is quietly healing. Teach us how to trust without closing our eyes to pain, and how to move forward without knowing the ending. Meet us on the unfinished road, and walk with us still. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Walking with the Question
Today or tomorrow, take a short walk—outside if possible. As you walk, hold one unresolved question gently in your awareness. Resist the urge to solve it or answer it.
With each step, repeat silently: I am allowed to walk without certainty.
Notice what you pass along the way—movement, life, obstacles, beauty.
When you return, ask: What is enough light for the next step?
Advent does not promise clarity all at once. It promises presence for the journey.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
January 6, 13, 20, 2026 - Protest and Action Chaplaincy Training with Rev. Anna Golladay. This live, online training offers a framework for providing compassionate, grounded spiritual care during protests, advocacy gatherings, and social movements. Learn more here.
January 15, 2026, 7-8pm EST - FREE Online Webinar: When the Internet Hurts: The Hidden Online Dangers Facing Our Teens and How Faith Communities Can Respond, Join me in conversation with Sharon Winkler, survivor parent and nationally respected youth online-safety advocate. Sharon’s son, Alex, died at age 17 after experiencing cyberbullying and algorithmically targeted pro-suicide content. Since then, Sharon has dedicated her life to helping parents, educators, and faith leaders recognize online dangers and build safer communities for young people. Register here.
February 11th and 25, 2026 - Join Our “Building a Culture of Leadership Within Congregations” Cohort facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin Ross and me! A two-session course for ministers and faith leaders ready to strengthen how their congregations and ministries identify, develop, and support leaders. Learn more 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.
Fun Things My Friends Are Up To…
I get to work with such amazing, creative people. This section is my way of celebrating them—no paid promotions, just joy in what they’re creating.
My friend and Buddhist teacher, Isa Gucciardi’s center, the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, has just released their 2026 calendar of events. I can’t recommend her courses enough. Check them out here.
Have you heard that Dr. Matthew Fox is taking a group to Italy?!? It’s a week-long retreat in Sardinia on May 25-30, 2026 focused on the theme of Awakening the Divine Human, rooted in the teachings of Matthew, C.G. Jung, and the ancient wisdom of the land. I so wish I could go, but I am already booked. You should consider it.
I just finished listening to Rachel Maddow’s new podcast called “Burn Order.” I realize I can’t exactly claim Rachel as a “friend” since we have never even met, but I still want to recommend the podcast to you. It’s pretty incredible.
If you are a leader or member of a congregation looking for consulting support in visioning, planning, hiring or staffing, please consider Convergence.
Richard Rohr talks about “holding the tension of opposites”, which is what this reminded me of… we must learn to live the in-between, hold onto faith when there’s no evidence, and seek the light even in the darkness. 🙏🏼
This reflection is an honest assessment of the path of life. The journey often is full of challenges and the gift of grace never leaves or forsakes us even when we question our present circumstances.