Trust

George Macdonald, the great fantasy writer, once said, "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved."

One of the reasons he said, I believe, trust is the greater compliment is because it is what you must have first. Love can only exist where there is first trust.

Webster defines trust as, "assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something." Often in life we seek to surround ourselves with people who have these qualities. We look to them to fill the gaps we miss; we depend on them; we trust them.

Trust is a very delicate thing. It takes a lifetime to build and seconds to destroy. Once someone steps over that line, it is hard for things to ever be the same. Satan works hard to put that wonder in your mind if they are being honest with you, or if they are pushing that line again.

The sad part is, the destruction of trust doesn't just involve the character of one person. When you cross that line, you often take the character of other people with you. It is a destructive cycle and oftentimes the people around you don't realize they are being dragged in until it is too late.

Ralph Waldo Emerson is in inspirational writer who writes for the reader to think. In every friendship I believe there is some kind of spiritual connection; something that draws you to that person. Some call it the Law of Attraction. Emerson wrote of this inspiration, "The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship."

I for one am someone who builds walls. My work is quite efficient by now. I tread my paths lightly and work to tread others' paths carefully as well. There are things we tell ourselves. We convince our mind that is it OK when it really isn't, and along the way we destroy the very thing which is most precious to us.

Cardinal De Retz, once Archbishop of Paris, said, "A man who doesn't trust himself can never really trust anyone else." This was interesting considering he spent his life floundering about in who he could trust and "knowing" the right people to climb the ladder.

Once we settle the issues of trust within our own souls, then we can begin to let people in from the outside. Until then, we will always struggle to be true to ourselves and those around us.

The question is, when will we figure it out? Will it be before we push those who love us away? Or will it be too late?