With Kim Jackson

Trust: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

There’s this thing that people do; it’s called a ‘Trust Building Exercise’. There are different forms of this exercise. The most popular one is when one person stands behind the other and the person in front ‘trusts’ the person behind them to catch them as they fall backward. Now, this exercise is done with couples, co-workers, teammates, etc. The purpose of this exercise is to help people develop mutual respect, openness, and understanding.

“Trust is the mother of deceit." – English Proverb

The problem is that society has evolved in such a manner that when a person fully trusts another; they are often taken advantage of. Hearts are broken. Marriages are torn apart. Partnerships are dissolved. All because they placed their lives, love, and money on the line with a ‘trusted’ flawed creature. They gave them the keys. They gave them the codes. They gave them the okay to take their essence, being, and allowance to do what they saw fit. I could say that the downfall began when Eve trusted a serpent in the garden. But she would not be a good example. You see, she was of fresh, untainted mind; while we…we devour knowledge consciously and unconsciously. With the daily peruses of the Internet; the sporadic trip to the library that we looked forward to or with dread is now at our fingertips. Hungry eyes and minds; processing the mental meal with a progressive intellect that continues with each cry of a new born baby that may catapult our world into another transition with a new breakthrough discovery or cure. Even the spammers and scammers have to renovate their schemes because we are becoming hip to the dead unknown relative, refugee, and political prisoner emails.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and refreshment for your body. - Proverbs 3:5-6

But, I ask…where is the line? Where is that measurement of what to trust, who to trust, and when to trust? It seems that everyone is falling more into the category of mistrust of anything and everything. No one trusts their government or their ability to run the country in which they live. No one trusts the banks which houses their money. It's to the point that some people feel that they cannot even trust their bearers of their own life.

“It is an equal failing to trust everybody, and to trust nobody.” – English Proverb

So, here is my challenge to you. In the times that we are always asking, “How can you expect me to fall when you’re not there to catch me?” Take a moment today and think about the ones that you have welcomed into your life. Recollect when you met the sisters and brothers that you have formed an unbreakable bond with. The ones that you have chosen to share your highs and lows with. The surrogate mothers and fathers that always had your best interest at heart and provided words of wisdom and guidance. Then call, text, email, skywrite them…let them know that because they are always there to catch you that you have given them one of the greatest gifts a person can give…your trust.