What Happened to Trust?

Warning: I'm going to talk about another crisis. Scrolling through Twitter this morning, I saw a recurring theme: a lack of trust. Think about it.

• You can't trust those scientists because you-know-who pays their salary.
• You can't trust the government, because it's full of corruption.
• You can't trust that political party because they are funded by that billionaire, and they just want to control everybody or help their buddies on Wall Street.
• You can't trust big corporations because they just want your money.
• You can't trust those high tech companies because they are mining all your personal information.
• You can't trust lawyers because, well, they are lawyers.
• You can't trust your doctor because he's peddling products by the big pharmaceutical companies.
• You can't trust the news media because they are pushing their own agenda, and you know what that means.
• You can't trust people different from yourself because they are up to no good.
• You can't trust religious leaders because they are after your money.
• You can't trust every news outlet because of all that "fake news."

So who can we trust? Patrick Lencioni says lack of trust is one of the "Five Dysfunctions of a Team." With no trust, every communication is suspect and loaded with incendiary content. But when trust is high, communication is almost effortless.

So, if we are going to recover trust, we have to be trustworthy. You go first.

But seriously, we need to be willing to take a step back from the toxic climate of public discourse, and listen to "those people." Even if they are nut-jobs, they may still have a point. Running people down and dismissing them does nothing to help us have a better society.

Let's have a conversation, folks.

Can we talk?

We have stopped listening.  Almost everyone has chosen a side--on whatever issue--and we have become emotionally invested in those positions.

We are so polarized that we cannot listen or think.  This brings further division and never solves problems.

I wish I knew a way to get beyond this impasse.  Maybe the best step forward would be recognizing our emotional investment in our opinions.  We invest in our views on climate change, political candidates, party platforms, minimum wage, abortion, etc., etc.  When someone challenges our opinions, we hunker down into a defensive mode; we attack those who disagree; we label others; we become angry.

It is no wonder that we can't have a conversation.  We are emotionally invested in being right.  We defend social and political positions as we pull for our sports teams.  We throw out reason and objectivity when we pull for our teams.  That's okay in the sports realm.  It makes no sense at all with issues that really matter.

A better approach would be to search sincerely for the truth.

I would rather advocate for the truth than pull for "my team" when it comes to climate change, foreign policy, or welfare programs.

If we dial back on our emotional investments, maybe we can actually listen.  Maybe we can think clearly.  Maybe we can find solutions. 

Maybe we can listen.  Maybe we can think.  And maybe we can pull together to achieve our common goals.

How to Pray

I am wrestling with intercessory prayer.  I'm praying for someone who needs guidance and direction.  But I don't know what to pray. 

I could write the script, and ask God to make it happen. 
I could just glibly say, "God work it out." 
I could merely repeat the request for wisdom ad infinitum. 
I could pray for direction as I make things work out.

Somehow, however, none of these perspectives on prayer seems right.  I am stuck merely asking God what to pray for.  How do I pray?  What do I say?  Is prayer merely saying the right things.  Isn't prayer more than mere words?

So this situation brings me to my knees, on behalf of another.  I ask for clarity on how to pray.  I ask for his intervention, not knowing exactly what that intervention should be.

And I try to listen.  That's so hard. 

Lord, open my soul to have your heart for this person, for this situation.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done.