Models of Courage
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” — Proverbs 31:8
Yesterday, we were gifted a wonderful example of courage and inspiration! A group of faith-rooted activists from Jewish Voice for Peace occupied the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City.1 They were there for one reason: to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University student detained by U.S. immigration authorities, without charge. They knew the risks, and they took them anyway. They chanted, “We will not comply, Mahmoud, we are on your side.” About 100 of them were arrested.
On the same day, a federal judge ruled that the administration must reinstate most of the government employees it had wrongfully fired.2 “It is sad, a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie,” Judge Alsup declared. A rare moment of accountability.
These stories remind us of something ancient: injustice never falls without a fight. Those in power do not voluntarily give up their control. Change happens because people demand it. It happens because people are willing to disrupt, to risk, to stand up, to say, “No, not on our watch.”
And yet, resistance is never just about protest—it is also about faith. It is about trusting that something better is possible, even when we can’t see the evidence yet. It’s about believing, in the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Our sacred traditions are full of stories of people who refused to comply with systems of oppression. Shiphrah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives, defied Pharaoh’s orders to kill the Israelite babies. Daniel refused to stop praying when it became illegal. Esther risked her life to speak up for her people. Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, refusing to let corrupt leaders exploit the poor in God’s name.
These stories aren’t just ancient history—they are blueprints for us. They remind us that our faith calls us not to passivity, but to courageous action. That action doesn’t always look the same. Some of us will take to the streets. Some of us will show up in courtrooms. Some of us will write and speak and teach and organize. Some of us will show up with food, with shelter, with love. But we all have a role to play.
The question before us is simple: Will we be bystanders, or will we be participants in God’s work of justice?
As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said after marching for civil rights in Selma, “I felt my legs were praying.” What would it look like for our lives to be a prayer for justice?
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where am I being called to show up with courage right now?
How can I stand in solidarity with those who are taking the biggest risks for justice?
What is one small but meaningful action I can take today?
A Prayer for the Day
A Blessing for the Courageous
For those who refuse to be silent, bless them.
For those who risk arrest for the sake of another, strengthen them.
For those who speak truth to power, embolden them.
For those who stand in solidarity, surround them with love.
For those who long for justice, let them see glimpses of the world they are fighting for.
And for all of us, grant us the courage to stand where we are needed,
To take the risks that matter,
To be the ones history will remember as choosing love over fear.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Embodying Solidarity
Today, take a moment to physically plant your feet on the ground. Feel the earth beneath you. Take a deep breath. Say out loud:
“I will not comply with injustice. I will stand for what is right.”
Then, put that commitment into action. Choose one way to stand in solidarity today. It could be donating to a legal defense fund, writing a letter to an unjustly detained person, attending a rally, calling your representatives, or simply amplifying the voices of those who need to be heard.
As you do, let your body remember that resistance is sacred. Love is not just something we feel—it is something we do.
When we stand together, we are never alone.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
March 18 and 25, 2025, 7-8:30pm - Dr. Matthew Fox and I are hosting a Lenten series that we are calling “From Darkness to Dawn: Spiritual Courage and Political Action in the Age of MAGA.” Our first session was with modern mystic, Mirabai Starr. Andrew Harvey was our second guest. The amazing Bishop Yvette Flunder on March 18! Father Adam Bucko on March 25! REGISTER HERE! (recordings are available)
April 1, 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.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/13/protesters-trump-tower-mahmoud-khalil?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/13/federal-court-orders-fired-workers-doge