Sacred Trust
Many times we do not notice, or truly appreciate, the sacred trust that is given to us. Each person that we encounter gives us a level of trust, be it as an individual or organization.
If we start with the members of our families or our friends, each person trusts us to a certain level. Children may trust the mother more, on certain topics, than the father and other times may trust dad more than mom and we know that grandparents gets a special trust. I have seen where there may be a parent, who either does not take the child seriously or may abuse the child, that makes it hard for the child to trust the parent or anyone. People may not realize that a child, in the formative years, learns how to trust in their family nucleus. A person may not trust anyone that they come in contact with all depending on their first encounters with people.
Emergency services gets a different level of trust, many times it is just by seeing the vehicle and/or uniform. Children are taught in case of fires, they are supposed to go to the firefighter, even though the equipment that they wear may seem scary. Children were taught that if they were lost or someone was after them, they were to look for a police officer. In all cases, when someone dials 911, there is an expressed or implied level of trust that is given.
Children are also taught to trust the faith leaders, the rabbis, imams, priests, pastors, ministers, etc. These individuals are the ones that people are supposed to feel safe discussing challenges that they go through in life. People come to them with family and work challenges, as well as spiritual questions and struggles.
When people are employed they are supposed to trust their employer, or when you join an organization, you are supposed to be able to trust leadership. When people face a fire or disaster, they are supposed to be able to trust the organization that responds.
But what happens when that trust is broken? I have been on national disasters, where a shelter is set up for hundreds and thousands of people. People showed up out of nowhere and a group of people said that they were authorized to receive tithes, the offerings that one would make in church. This is what I would deem as unethical and in extremely bad taste, since the people just lost all that they had in a disaster.
Other organizations show up; they are expected to provide help but do not provide any. There are organizations that follow the victims of a disaster and the victim is trying to get assistance but the organization pulls them in for a long religious service and will not let the victim leave until they agree to convert to that religion. This is interesting because they see a person in need and they refuse to assist with the needs. If a person is hungry, it is time to feed the person. If a person is cold, then help them get warm. If they have not slept, give them a bed and let them sleep. Matthew 25:40 states that what you have done to the least of these is what you have done for Christ.
When someone has a complaint about how they are treated or the organizations practices, the person goes to the organization and leadership to receive a resolution to the problems. There are too many organizations that overlook the complaint or remove the individual, making the complaint, from the organization, so they lose the trust of the person who is already victimized.
I have had people come to me and share something with me because they trusted me over other people that were caring for the person. My job is to not give up the trust. The conversations are confidential with me and only if the people tell me to share the information with others, will I discuss it.
There are people in almost every walk of life, in almost every organization that have taken advantage of people and abused the trust of someone, when they are in a vulnerable state. Some have been physically or mentally abused. It is not the fault of the person that was abused but those who have broken the trust.
Maybe we should take a better look at those who do not trust people. It may take a long time to rebuild trust in anyone but we should not toss anyone on a scrap heap. We need to be willing to work slowly with people and take the progress where it comes, as it comes.
When we talk to people about working with anyone, we teach them not to make promises, if there is any chance you will not keep the promise. If you have the slightest thought that you may not be able to keep the promise for one reason or another, including getting too busy, it is best not to make any promise.
It takes a long time to gain someone's trust but only a moment to lose it for a lifetime.
Are you worthy of someone's trust? Anyone's trust?
Take a moment and think how you felt when someone betrayed you and please do whatever you can to make sure that someone does not get that feeling when dealing with you.
Stay safe,
Didymus McHugh
didymus-mchugh.com
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