When Eshu Comes to Town
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” — Isaiah 5:20
There’s an old story about the Trickster—one of those wise, mischievous figures that show up in myths across cultures, always stirring the pot, exposing hidden truths, and revealing how easily we are fooled.
In one West African tale, the Trickster god Eshu walks through a village wearing a hat that is red on one side and blue on the other. As he strolls past two groups of people, he tilts his head just enough so each group sees only one side of his hat. Later, when the villagers talk about what they saw, one group insists his hat was red, while the other swears it was blue. Their disagreement quickly escalates into an all-out fight—until Eshu returns, laughing. “Fools,” he says. “You saw only what I wanted you to see.”
Sound familiar?
We’re living in Trickster times.1 Lies are pushed as truth. Truth is dismissed as fake news. Powerful people create crises, then offer themselves as the solution. They thrive on division, making sure we blame each other instead of questioning the game itself.
Isaiah’s warning feels especially relevant: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” (Isaiah 5:20)2 The Trickster reminds us just how easily we can be deceived. But (s)he also gives us a choice: Stay fooled, or wake up.
What if we refused to fall for the trick? What if, instead of arguing over what color the hat is, we took a step back and asked: Who is benefiting from this confusion? Who is controlling the narrative? Who is being harmed? What happens when we refuse to play along?
History has always been shaped by those who saw through deception—people who stayed true to their inclusive values, who chose to ask better questions, who stood up to bullies, who worked for something real instead of chasing shadows. Now it’s our turn. Will we be fooled? Or will we be warriors of compassion and wisdom-seekers in a time when clarity, maturity and kindness is desperately needed?
But here’s the real challenge: Eshu walks among us, but Eshu also lives within us. It’s easy to point out deception in others, but harder to recognize how we, too, can be tricked by our own assumptions, fears, and blind spots. So, we proceed with deep humility. May we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.
We are in this together. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that…for you,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
When have you felt pulled into confusion or division? What helped you step back and see more clearly?
How do you discern what is true when faced with conflicting narratives? What practices help you stay grounded in wisdom?
What would it look like for you to be a voice of curiosity and understanding in your community?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Clarity
God of wisdom,
Help us see clearly.
Give us eyes to recognize trickery,
Ears to hear what is true,
And hearts that are steady in the storm.
When confusion swirls around us,
Anchor us in what is rooted in Love.
When fear tries to pull us apart,
Remind us that we belong to each other.
May we have the courage to ask hard questions,
To seek understanding before judgment,
To listen deeply and love boldly.
And when the Trickster tries to lead us astray,
May we remember:
We are not here to fight over the color of the hat.
We are here to build a world where all can thrive.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
The Practice of Discernment
Today, challenge yourself to pause before reacting. When you come across a news story, a heated debate, or a strong political opinion, take a breath and ask yourself:
Who is telling this story?
What’s their goal?
Who benefits if I believe this?
Is there another perspective I haven’t considered?
Then, take it a step further: seek out a different source, have a thoughtful conversation with someone outside your usual circle, or simply sit in silence and ask for wisdom.
Truth doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it waits for us in the quiet, asking if we’re ready to see.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
February 18, 2025, 12pm ET, Being a pastor is no easy task, especially in a year like this one. Join my colleague Rev. Jim Keat and other faith leaders as we talk about not only what we are holding, but how we are holding it. Register here.
February 18, 2025 - Rabbi Benjamin Ross and I are collaborating on a new leadership program called “All Together Now: A Collaborative Cohort for Jewish Congregational Leadership Teams.” You can read about the program here. The deadline to register is Feb 18. The cohort launches in April.
February 27, 2025, 12-1:30pm - Margaret Wheatley and I are offering a 4 or 8-session course called “Are We Made for These Times?” If you know Meg’s work, it’s going to be extraordinary. If you want the deep dive, the 8-session course is for you. You can read about the shorter 4-session course here. Scholarships are available. I sooooo hope you can be a part of this!
March 4, 2025, 7-8:30pm - Dr. Matthew Fox and I are scheming a series that we are calling “From Darkness to Dawn: Spiritual Courage and Political Action in the Age of MAGA.” We are still confirming our co-presenters, but Andrew Harvey will be one (on March 11)! The registration page is coming…stay tuned.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more. Only two spots left!
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. Mark your calendars! More on this soon.
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. Mark your calendars for now. More info is coming.
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.
Dr. Sharon Blackie wrote a brilliant piece on the archetypal role of the Trickster. https://substack.com/home/post/p-155677140
I would also include the passage in Matthew 13:16-17 which points to “those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.” There is a kind of discerning wisdom needed in Trickster times, a clarity of sensing and attunement to the energetic animations of contradiction and paradox. I will explore this more in the future.
Blessings All. I think it is important to add that it takes great courage to say you see something different from what others all believe that they see. Sadly, The Tricksters can be very persuasive. Keep speaking truth to power with courage.
People always see what they want to see. We seek affirmation of what we already believe or want to believe. I see the red and blue hat as a hat. I see red and blue states as a false binary on the spectrum of what we, for some reason, continue to call “United”.