Loving Our (Canadian) Neighbor
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” —Mark 12:31
Dear Canada,
We’re sorry. Truly.
You have been the best kind of neighbor—steady, kind, and generous. You have stood by us in times of crisis, shared in our joys and sorrows, and reminded us what friendship between nations can look like. And yet, our government has chosen conflict over cooperation, self-interest over partnership. A 25% tariff on Canadian goods is not just bad economics—it’s bad faith. It undermines the trust and goodwill that has long defined our relationship.
You deserve better. The world deserves better.
In moments like this, I am reminded that being a good neighbor is not just a social contract—it’s a spiritual one. Across traditions, the call to love and care for those around us is central. Jesus told us that loving our neighbor is the greatest commandment, second only to loving God. The Hebrew Scriptures remind us again and again to welcome the stranger and to seek the welfare of the city in which we live. In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad said, “He is not a believer whose neighbor does not feel safe from his harm.”
Being a good neighbor is about more than proximity—it’s about posture. It’s about choosing relationship over rivalry, generosity over greed, and cooperation over control. It’s about recognizing that our well-being is tied up with one another’s. No border, no policy, no tariff can change that fundamental truth.
The great theologian Howard Thurman wrote, “There is something in every one of us that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in ourselves… and if I hear the genuine in me, I can hear it in you.”1 To be a good neighbor, we must listen for the genuine in one another. We must resist the forces that seek to divide us and instead build bridges of understanding and solidarity.
So, to our Canadian friends: We see you. We honor you. While the actions of those in power may not reflect it, know that many of us stand with you in friendship and gratitude.
We are in this together,
Cameron (and lots of embarrassed Americans)
Reflection Questions
Who has been a good neighbor in your life? How have they shown care and generosity?
How can you practice neighborliness—not just with those close to you, but in the broader world?
What are ways we can push back against divisive rhetoric and instead cultivate relationships built on mutual respect and cooperation?
A Prayer for the Day
A Blessing for Our Neighbors
O God of every nation,
You created us to live in relationship,
To be neighbors who lift each other up,
To seek peace over power,
And to love beyond borders.
Bless our neighbors to the north—
May they know respect and kindness.
Bless those whose policies sow division—
May their hearts be softened to wisdom.
Bless all of us, that we may remember:
Our future is shared, and our love must be, too.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Practicing Neighborly Love
Take time to intentionally practice neighborliness. Reach out to someone in your life—a literal neighbor, a friend across borders, or someone who has been an ally in difficult times. Write a note of appreciation, extend a kindness, or simply listen to their story. If you feel called, take a moment to learn about Canada’s contributions to global peace, environmental protection, or humanitarian work.
As we strengthen the bonds of friendship in our personal lives, we help weave a larger fabric of connection and goodwill in the world.
Because in the end, being a good neighbor isn’t just a political stance—it’s a spiritual one.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
March 4, 11, 18, 25 2025, 7-8:30pm - Dr. Matthew Fox and I are scheming a Lenten series that we are calling “From Darkness to Dawn: Spiritual Courage and Political Action in the Age of MAGA.” Modern mystic, Mirabai Starr, will be our guest on March 4! Andrew Harvey on March 11! The amazing Bishop Yvette Flunder on March 18! Father Adam Bucko on March 25! REGISTER HERE!
March 4, 2025, 12pm ET - Rev. Damien Lake and I are collaborating on hosting a cohort for new congregation developers that will meet monthly. Ecumenical. Interfaith. Free. Join us.
April 1, 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.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more. Only one spot 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. 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.
Howard Thurman, “The Sound of the Genuine,” Baccalaureate Address, Spelman College, May 4, 1980. Text edited by Jo Moore Stewart, Spelman Messenger 96, no. 4 (Summer 1980): 14–15.
As a Canadian with American relatives I deeply appreciate your message and prayer today. We are also praying for our neighbors to the South. As a global community we are facing existential threats to the environment and democratic institutions. May the darkness of these times generate the light of wisdom for ourselves and future generations.
Thank you, thank you. This affirms what many of us have known here in Canada. I practice, with some failings along the way to do Matthew 22:36-40. So, I pray for all our political leaders here as well as President Trump and Mr. Musk. Tough work some days; especially today. I find some situations more baffling than others. The auto industry is just one example. I pray for you Rev. Cameron and all others in the US that your work would continue to be a shining light. Rev. Scott Brown, Canada