Faithfully yours - Misplaced trust

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Published on Saturday, January 23, 2016

By Neil Strohschein

The Neepawa Banner

Whenever anyone says “trust me,” I get nervous. I am equally reluctant to use those words.

It’s not that I don’t trust people—I do. Nor is it that I consider myself to be untrustworthy—I don’t. It’s just that I have learned to be suspicious of those who say: “Trust me;” because I have learned the hard way that those who regularly use those words often betray my trust.

Those I trust are those who, over time, have earned my trust. And I hope that they trust me for the same reason. Trust is not something we can demand from others. It is something we earn by loving and caring service, giving honest answers to questions asked and keeping promises made, even if it costs us a lot of time and effort to do so.

But even earned trust has limits.

When Ronald Reagan ran for his first term as President of the United States, he promised to do two things once elected. First, he would cut taxes for the middle class and he did.

His second promise was to rearm America. He promised that the American military would have the people and the equipment it needed to defend America’s interests anywhere in the world and to provide military assistance to any allied countries who requested America’s help.

While there is no doubt that Reagan’s initiatives were necessary and that they have done much good, they left the United States in a position of misplaced trust. Americans took Reagan at his word. They believed that by sending their armed forces to fight in wars half a world away, they were keeping their homeland secure and protecting their citizens who lived in other countries.

9-11 changed all that. As the World Trade Centre towers crashed to the ground, so did the hopes and dreams of many Americans. They suddenly realized how vulnerable they really were. Their beefed up military with all its modern technology couldn’t prevent this tragedy from happening.

Many years ago, King David wrote these words: “No king is saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory; by its great might it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, who hope in his steadfast love to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.” (Psalm 33:16-19)

Since 9-11, we have learned that no nation is secure from the threat of terrorist acts. We can have the best surveillance measures, the best intelligence agencies and the most technologically advanced means of tracking people’s movements and activities. But what one person sets up, another person can find a way to work around; and when that happens, tragedy ensues.

My faith is not in a government, in an army or in a police force. I trust them to do their best to protect our country and to ensure that all who live within the borders of this great country or who represent us at embassies and consulates around our world can live in peace and safety.

But my faith is in the God in whose hands are the hearts of all the political leaders of this world. I place my future and the future of my country in his hands. Whatever happens in this coming year, whatever challenges we may face, I know he will give us the wisdom, grace and strength to survive and thrive.