Wisdom Hidden in the Unraveling
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” — John 12:24 (NRSV)
I spoke yesterday with the CEO of a major corporation. He was honest, clear, and exhausted. His company, like so many others, is being thrown into chaos by the latest round of tariffs and retaliatory trade policy.1 What should be a moment of innovation and impact has become a daily practice in damage control. The rules of engagement keep shifting. His team is stressed, disoriented. Investments have been frozen. Plans rewritten. Confidence shaken.
That conversation stayed with me all day—not because it was unique, but because it wasn’t. It could have been a teacher talking about educational standards. A clergy person talking about their budget. A farmer talking about the weather. A parent talking about their child’s safety. This is what it feels like to live in a world where the systems we once counted on—markets, government, norms, due process—are cracking beneath our feet.
We are all carrying some form of anticipatory grief. We feel the ground shifting, but we don’t know where it’s leading. We want to lead, to contribute, to build—but it’s hard to build when everything feels like sand.
And yet…
In the Christian tradition, there’s an uncomfortable but sacred teaching: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain.” It’s a lesson about transformation, about how the seed doesn’t become a harvest unless it first breaks open.
What if part of our fear is not just about what’s dying—but about how deeply we resist the unfamiliar shape of what’s being born?
Breakdown, while painful, is often the beginning of breakthrough. Not by accident, but by design. The old patterns—of control, corruption, domination, endless growth—are unsustainable. They are cracking because they must. In their crumbling, there is holy potential.
This doesn’t mean we welcome the harm. It doesn’t mean we don’t confront the evil. It means we learn to see the moment truthfully, that we stop clinging to what was and begin asking what could be made new.
THE world is not ending. A world is ending. And another—one marked by integrity, resilience, interdependence with all of life on this earth—might just be waiting for us to become ready.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where do you feel the disorientation of breakdown most in your life or work?
Are there signs of new life or breakthrough beneath the surface?
How do you discern what to grieve, what to release, and what to rebuild?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Living Through the Unraveling
Spirit of the Turning Seasons,
when the maps no longer work,
when the roads collapse into dust,
when even our questions unravel—
be with us.
Help us to stand still in the storm,
to breathe when we are afraid,
to listen when there are no clear answers.
Give us courage not just to endure
but to trust that new wisdom waits
on the other side of this disorientation.
May we be transformed, not just protected.
Made ready, not merely rescued.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
A Moment of Surrender
Find a quiet moment to name what is breaking down in your life, your work, or your community. You don’t need to fix it or solve it—just name it honestly.
Then, hold your palms open in your lap. Imagine placing that uncertainty, fear, or grief into your hands. With each breath, practice the art of surrender—not as giving up, but as making room.
Say aloud or silently:
I don’t need all the answers to stay grounded.
I don’t need full clarity to remain faithful.
Even in the breakdown, I can stay present to what is becoming.
Repeat this as often as you need. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do in uncertain times is stay open.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
NEW!!! On June 4, 2025, from 7-8pm ET, join Brian McLaren, Matthew Fox, and me for an exploration of “In the Midst of Doom: Facing Our Moment and Finding Our Way” inspired by Brian’s latest book. In an age of climate crisis, political unraveling, and societal collapse, many are asking: What now? What’s worth doing when the systems around us are failing? How do we find meaning beyond hope as we’ve known it? Join us and we will explore together. Register here.
June 4, 2025, 12pm ET - Jeff Chu has written a new book on a topic close to my heart: Soil! The title is “Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand.” I am so pleased to be interviewing him. Together, we’ll explore what it means to cultivate “good soil” in our lives, our communities, and our spiritual practices. I hope you will register. Your registration includes a copy of his new book.
July 14, 2025 - On June 14—Flag Day—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like. Find a protest in your city HERE. I will be out there with you!
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more.
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. Register here!
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.
This development is very encouraging: https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-court-0392dbd59f548e49ad4f64254ae3f94a
We are being called anew and there is resistance even in church congregations. Some of us will celebrate Ascension this Sunday. (Luke 24). This leads to next Sunday and Pentecost (Acts 2). And people who need people supply are still fighting to have Presbyterian ministers for Presbyterian pulpits. There is a large refusal to embrace the new creation of God that is happening in that we are living literally in the time of Acts. The radicalness of Jesus is changes cultural practices (Acts 10) changes spiritual practices (Acts 15) and levels power structures so all hear the gospel (Acts 8 and 16). Can you imagine ELCA preachers in UCC pulpits. Here in Canada that is exactly what I and others are doing equivalently. This is going to be a wild ride.
Two simple words from my Soul: Thank you.