20 October 2009

Move Toward Trust


Check out Bridget Chumbley's blog carnival on Trust.

Sitting on the green couch in my office a client told me, “It might seem harsh that I don’t trust you, but you know what? I don’t trust myself either. It’s prudent to distrust people.” I sat silent for several seconds. Reflecting on what he said.

The man on the green couch had a point. As a counselor I get the feeling that the world is far more messed up than many people suspect. There is beauty in our world for sure, but these are islands and occasional subcontinents in a vast ocean of human pain. Humanity drives a hard bargain.

LIFE RAFT

Near the beginning of this summer I was coming back from lunch, driving across the Intracostal Waterway with my friend and colleague, Leigh de Armas. An afternoon shower was drenching the vehicle we were in. It was a cleansing rain.

I told Leigh that I am a follower of Jesus Christ by default. I don’t have anything left to believe in, certainly not humanity. When I was broken I turned to Jesus Christ and His story of redemption. The healing I received when I put my faith in Jesus is real. Jesus is the only thing that has ever worked.

NEW DAY RISING

Like the man on the green couch, I struggle with mistrust. The last time I put my full trust in a system designed by men, I participated in events that still wake me up at night. If I were brutally honest I would have to say that I often feel ashamed to be human.

However, now I have Jesus in my life. He loves me. I am certain of that. He forgives me. I am certain of that, too.

The most beautiful gift Jesus has given me here on earth is to reconcile me with humanity.

He tells me, “These are my children, too. I want you to care for them. I want you to show them that there is a better way. If you cannot completely trust them, if you cannot completely trust yourself, then trust me. I want you to have faith in me and to love them.”

That is where I am. I see amazing beauty, compassion, even mercy in the lives of many people I know.

People are capable of breath taking acts of self-sacrifice and love. I believe this is God using us, moving through us, healing us.

God has shown me that although I am moving toward trust, in reality I do not have to trust you or any other person, but for my own sanity I need to allow myself to love you. He knows my heart yearns to love you.

And, from the bottom of my heart, I do.

Thank you, Jesus...


15 comments:

  1. Our thoughts on the subject were alike, Richard. He loves (trusts) us and now wants to to love (trust) others.

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  2. "When I was broken I turned to Jesus Christ and His story of redemption. The healing I received when I put my faith in Jesus is real. Jesus is the only thing that has ever worked."

    I loved those statements. I can relate wholeheartedly! Thanks for the post, Russell.

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  3. Loving people whether they can be trusted or not. Wow. I never thought about that. But you are right. We are called to love as He loves..

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  4. I do not have to trust you or any other person, but for my own sanity I need to allow myself to love you.

    Love trumps all, enables all: forgiveness, pain, faith, joy, peace ... the list goes on forever.

    Praise the Lord for the love He gives and enables us to share!

    One of your very best posts, Russell.

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  5. Russell, this is such a powerful post. To love others, even if we can't or won't trust them is definitely thought provoking.

    Thank you for this!

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  6. Fantastic!

    "The most beautiful gift Jesus has given me here on earth is to reconcile me with humanity." - Love that.

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  7. A good place to come ... and without love we are just a noisy gong

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  8. Isn't it so refreshing to know we serve the only One who will never fail us?

    This is such raw TRUTH....Loving others as Jesus commands us to.

    ..."I want you to have faith in me and to love them." Woah!

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  9. Glynn - Thanks, Man!''

    Path From - He is our only lasting hope. Thanks for visiting :-)

    Anne - That means a lot coming from you...

    Bridget - Thank you for hosting the B. C. You write some mighty thought provoking stuff, too.

    Katdish - I had tears in my eyes when I wrote that line. It is really true.

    S. Etole - Your post today was great... :-)

    Michelle - Yes it is. Thank you for visiting... :-)

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  10. "If you cannot completely trust them, if you cannot completely trust yourself, then trust me. I want you to have faith in me and to love them." Amen! Praise God that we don't have to trust and love in our own strength!

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  11. Hello...just visiting from the carnival today. This one got me thinking especially about loving people we don't trust...really thought provoking post...thanks for this.

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  12. Wow Russel, That's deep man!

    Excellent post.

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  13. Kevin, Joyce and Peter - Thank you all for taking the time to read the post and comment. Blessings to you.

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  14. i love you too

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  15. Thanks nAncY... Love is poetry...

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