It's a Matter of Trust...

To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.

~George MacDonald

 It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.

~Unknown

 He, who does not trust enough, will not be trusted. 

~Lao Tzu

          Forgive me and indulge me as I state the obvious – trust is everything. Trust is what decent society depends on to succeed.  Trust is what binds us together.  Trust is a prerequisite for love. Trust is a requirement of friendship. Trust is a precondition to respect. Trust is innate. Trust is non-negotiable. Trust is an absolute.

As infants, we trust our parents to provide food, warmth, safety, shelter and love.

As children, we trust our siblings with our first secrets.

As teenagers, we trust our first loves with our hearts.

As parents, we trust our children to others.

As adults, we trust our spouses with our laughter and our tears.

And the list goes on…

We trust doctors to heal us.

We trust bankers with our money.

We trust mechanics with our cars.

We trust politicians with our future. 

We trust teachers to prepare us. 

We trust weathermen to inform us. 

We trust policemen to protect us.

We trust others to be decent people.

It is the foundation of all human relationships and interactions.

 We love. We respect. We trust.

            But what happens when this foundation of trust breaks down?  What happens when we come across someone who does not recognize the value of trust?

– Someone who is incapable of or unwilling to value and protect this foundation of trust? 

-Someone who seems to take pleasure in breaking down this foundation of trust?

-Someone who does not seem to understand that trust requires a mutual relationship? 

-Someone who expects to be trusted without earning it or returning it?

-Someone who expects it, but does not treasure it?

-Someone who is missing this innate ability to trust?

            What is his/her place in society?  What is his/her place in our lives?  Do we let him in?  Do we let her stay? I do not know the answers to my own questions.  I suppose the answers are particular to each situation.  Is this person…your child...your spouse…your sibling…your pastor…your parent…your co-worker…your neighbor?  Can you live without them?  Can you live without trust?  Can you live without that foundation? 
            What I do know and believe is that trust is everything.  I do know that as humans we are born to love and trust each other.  I know …

   Without trust, there is nothing.

~Unknown