Trust

        "Trust is a gift. Sometimes it is given grudgingly, or cautiously, but it is extended in a gift-like form. Other times, if you could see it as a concrete object, it would be locked away in a box, perhaps never to be opened and shared.

        Life with all its changes and all its variety of experiences requires faith and trust in some manner at some time. It cannot be given so willingly that it falls into the category of gullibility. It must have balance with reason.

        If there is a pattern that an individual follows and seldom varies from it, more than likely it will continue. This is not to say that one cannot change, but it is a guideline to be used for exercising caution.

        A child has such trust as it begins its steps. Such trust and such vulnerability as it comes into the world. Circumstances and events surrounding the issue of trust shapes us all. If we pull back too often from ever extending trust, it becomes harder and harder to take that first step of believing and trusting. What causes a person to pull back? Almost always pain or loss. The hurt of deception, of words not meant, of promises not kept, we probably have all experienced in some form.

        Too trusting invites those who would take advantage of another. Too closed and too non trusting invites a hardness, a defense, a closing off from the sharing that comes with trust.

        How does one find a balance? What is the key to being centered and not at one extreme or the other? Experience plays a key part. But we have different experiences that affect us somewhat or perhaps in a very traumatic way. The key is a centering of self. It is a certitude of inner strength. Having a basic foundation of security will allow one to sometimes risk trust without being pulled off balance if the trust is not returned. You must live with yourself. An obvious thing, but not one most people think about. Once you have the inner Self in contact with reason and reasonableness, you will find that there is not so much tension involved as to whether or not to trust.

        Trust in the Creator is another deeper type of trust which must be restored with spiritual food of prayer and thought."