Trust is a critical and pervasive part of a healthy life. Confidence in the safety of the food we eat, the reliability of our justice system and dependable friends are all essential parts of being able to develop a life that is wholesome and fulfilling. Trust is therefore precious.
Trust is also fragile. Once abused or lost it can be difficult to regain, and broken trust can seriously and sometimes permanently damage an individual’s ability to engage life fully, leaving them jaundiced, cynical or fearful. So, whom or what one trusts is a critical aspect of living life to its fullest.
When I was much younger, my mother basically trusted anything in print which purported to be a factual account. She had great difficulty comprehending that a person could be perverse or unconcerned enough to report something that wasn’t the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. To her great dismay, she discovered she gave too much credit to the fifth estate. Imagine the kind of shock today’s social media would elicit!
Back then, leaders (whether civic, academic or religious) also received almost unquestioned confidence. Oh, most people knew they might “adjust” the truth a little – emphasize one part and overlook another to promote an agenda — but intentionally mislead, cover up or stifle alternate viewpoints? Not in freedom-loving, democratic Canada, not in our truth-seeking institutions of higher learning, not in our humble, God glorifying, neighbour-serving churches! Sadly, more dismay.
This history is for me an ongoing mixture of sadness and dismay around trust. This negative perspective has two angles. In spite of all the counter evidence alluded to above, many still almost blindly put their trust in what they read and in leaders of various parts of society. And because such confidence is often poorly placed with the inevitable aftermath of hurt, many become unwilling or unable to trust and thus experience a greatly reduced fullness of life.
What to do? Find trustworthy friends — people of integrity with whom you can explore ideas and actions, uncover deceit, reflect on life as you experience it and risk some self-disclosure. You don’t need many, but there is a face-to-face factor for life-enriching trust. (Electronically connected friends can fulfil this need for trusting relationships if face-to-face folk are not available.)
At the same time, invite God’s Spirit of Truth [John 14-16] to help you discern what is true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling and gracious; as well as who are reliable persons, truly and humbly seeking to make society better for all.
But most of all heed Proverbs. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Don’t give over to another person or perspective or philosophy what belongs primarily to God. God alone is worthy of our complete trust. Begin there. Be discerning. Be prudent in including others into your confidence. Trust with those components may not eliminate trouble from life, but it will provide many blessings and is the best path for the fullness of life for which we were created and saved.