Don't Give Up on Trust

One woman describes herself as "five feet, three inches tall andnpleasingly plump." After she had a minor accident, her mothernaccompanied her to the emergency room. The triage nurse asked for hernheight and weight, and she blurted out, "Five-foot-eight, 125 pounds."

While the nurse pondered over this information, the woman's mothernleaned over to her. "Sweetheart," she said gently, "this is not thenInternet."

The Internet is becoming known as a place where the truth is notnreadily apparent. I've learned from the Internet that I have extremelynwealthy acquaintances in Africa that have enormous sums of money theynneed to transfer out of the country. They literally contact me everynday! And if I will only help, they will gladly share a portion ofntheir bounty with me and I'll become an instant multi-millionaire.
Others promise me wealth beyond my wildest dreams if only I invest innan up-and-coming business venture. Daily, the Internet reminds me thatngreed can lead to disaster; that not everybody has my best interest innmind and I must be sensibly cautious.

But in most relationships, I would rather trust than shut others out.
I would rather be taken advantage of by a few than isolate myself fromneverybody. Perhaps not everybody should be trusted, but I would hatento experience life without it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it well: "Trust men and they will be true tonyou; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great."

Children will more often live up our high expectations than not.
Friends and colleagues will generally show themselves to bendependable. The world we live in is a good world, inhabited by mostlyngood people who can still be counted on.

If you feel cynical, don't give up on trust. Others will usually comenthrough. If love makes the world go 'round, then trust makes the lovengo 'round.