“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I was raised to believe that in this country, no one is above the law. Power is a trust, not a throne. Leadership is service, not spectacle.
But lately, I find myself wondering what kind of story we’re actually telling our children. When we allow one man — or any movement — to crown itself above the Constitution, above justice, above human decency… we’re not just bending the arc of history. We’re breaking it.
This Saturday, across the country, people are rising. In city squares, rural crossroads, parks, and sidewalks, we will gather and say: No. We do not serve kings.1
We are not gathering because it’s convenient. We are showing up because something deep in the human spirit refuses to bow to tyranny dressed in patriotism.
What we’re witnessing is not just politics. It’s the story of what happens when power forgets humility. When leaders turn inward, worshiping their own image, instead of listening to the cries of the people. When religious symbols are weaponized to shield violence and excuse cruelty. And when citizens are asked not just to vote, but to kneel.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned us about this. He lived through the slow slide from democracy to dictatorship. He wrote: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil… Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
So let us act. Let us protest!
We act not with hatred, not with violence, but with the kind of love that shakes empires. Let our presence in the streets, in whatever form we are able, be a declaration: We remember who we are. We have always been a people who rise. We have always been a people who care.
Here’s what gives me hope: No matter how loud the propaganda gets, no matter how thick the fear, the soul of a people cannot be bought, silenced, or ruled by fear forever.
Even now, somewhere in this country, a young person is deciding not to be afraid. A parent is telling their child the truth. A neighbor is checking in on someone alone. And a protester is packing a sign that says, in so many words: We were made to be free.
Let us join them. Let us be among those who did not stay silent. Let us make America beautiful again, not through dominance, but through love that will not yield.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What story of “America” do I carry in my bones? Who gave it to me? What do I want to pass on?
When has my silence allowed false kings to rise — in politics, in religion, even in my family?
What does resistance rooted in love look like for me this week?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer For the Courage to Remember Who We Are
O Spirit who dwells in freedom, You did not make us for crowns, but for community. You did not call us to bend the knee, but to lift up the lowly. You did not build us to serve kings, but to serve love. So ignite in us a holy fire. Make our hearts burn with remembrance. May we never forget what dignity feels like. May we never forget what hope sounds like. And may we never stop walking — together — toward the dawn we refuse to let die. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
March as Prayer
Wherever you are this weekend, find a way to show up with your whole spirit.
If you protest in person: Let your steps be prayer. Let your silence, if you choose it, be filled with purpose. Let your voice, if you raise it, echo with love that refuses to be ruled.
If you can’t be there physically:
• Write a prayer for justice and send it to someone marching.
• Share the truth online — without shaming, but with fierce clarity.
• Donate to an organization doing the slow, sacred work of protecting democracy.
And after the protest — breathe. Remember that love is a long walk, and you are not alone.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
October 18, 2025 - No Kings 2.0 Protest - Scholars of authoritarianism teach us that we need 3.5% of the population rising up to disrupt the rise of authoritarians. The last protest had over 6 million people in the streets in the US (more around the world) which was one of the largest protest in US history. We need to double that number. So here we go again. The movement builds. See you on the streets.
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.
I love the way you write, Cameron. You inspire me and so beautifully present God’s perspective to love and serve in the midst of difficult times. I will be participating in the No Kings Protest in Chicago! I will not be silent and I will hold onto hope.
Repairing the world
calls for no king, yes to sing!
All around the world.