What is my word, what is human wisdom but a noise that reaches the outer ear?
But from the ear to the heart lies a road that only God can travel …Oscar Romero
Trust is one of the most unique virtues that can inspire and propel human action to courageously respond in ways that are unimaginable, yet manifests remarkable outcomes. At its core, the essence of trust releases a dynamic energy that instills human beings to act with humility, sincerity (self honesty), harmoniously, with clarity, balance and a deeper sense of purpose and connection to the whole. Its role and value, true potential have often been underestimated, and often appropriated and misused when building relationships across all spheres of human endeavor.
Trust as a virtue exists in all facets of human interactions and human relationships. Trust often is built cumulatively over time through various experiences that transforms into a dynamic force.
Trust building is not static, but a synergistic process. The very nature of trust building is intricate and interconnected with many human systems in a vast complex web of values and processes that nurtures its growth, as well as strengthens it. It is perhaps from this perspective that examining trust as a key element in shaping and guiding the course of relationships between humans and relationships between States that have influenced historical processes. However, it is perhaps our inability to fully comprehend the real nature of trust and its dually perceived existence as either an act or as one that has culminated through a process of a series of acts which often misleads people in undervaluing or taking for granted how essential it is. This cleavage has often given advantage for the powers that be to exploit this space through introducing doubt, thereby perpetuating their self-interest and eventually exploitation.
So often the lack of trust prevents suppresses issues from being brought into the open where critical dialogue could take place. The careless use of harsh strong words and the tendency to make assumptions based on emotional reactivity only feeds the cycle of distrust. Exchanges made in these contexts are often misunderstood, create more divides and wound more deeply. From infancy one is taught to fear the ‘other’ which, over the years, leads to insecurity and distrust. From the perspective of human security, war torn societies have many barriers to tear down while simultaneously mending damaged relationships. When humans lose the capacity to trust, one becomes extremely cynical, negative and despondent in responding to daily situations because fear has taken over.
The true nature of trust is sensitive to untruths, has the ability to feel when it has been betrayed and is no friend to the forces of domination, the destructiveness of divide and rule and the hegemony of the powers that be. The presence of trust which brings understanding and affirms unity in purpose, solidarity, indeed causes a threat to the existence and stability of the status quo and the powers that be. The strength of the powerless relies on their ability to trust.
