Trashing Trust

Trashing Trust.  People often say... 'Trust me.'  Yet, it seems to be those very individuals who do things that violate our trust.  After repeat offenses, it's easy to become jaded and skeptical of those individuals.  So, how do we forgive those who have trashed our trust?

I've spent a lifetime forgiving those who have violated my trust.  From the babysitter who sexually abused me when I six, to the step-father who beat me for sport, to a brother who needed anger management counseling, to a landlord who screwed me on a commercial lease, and more recently, to a few colleagues who thought nothing of taking my intellectual property and using it without my permission... and the list goes on. 

How do you dig deep and find the wherewithal to forgive those who have trespassed against you?  Frankly, I'm not sure that it's even humanly possible.  Throughout the greater part of my life, I've relied on a higher power to get me through troubling times.  And it's been my faith that has taught me to forgive and to move on, but not without learning some valuable lessons along the way.

The old adage comes to mind... 'Screw me once, shame on you... Screw me twice, shame on me.'  There's wisdom in identifying those folks who lack moral and ethical scruples, making every effort to avoid them like the plague.  While it's nearly impossible to rid ourselves of every encounter with those who are ethically and morally bankrupt, it is possible to possess certain skill-sets which better enable us to deal with their lying sack of trash behavior.

Popping pills or downing a few cocktails may be viable remedies for taking the frustrating edge off of dealing with untrustworthy individuals, but I was thinking more along the lines of possessing wisdom, understanding, forgiveness, compassion and grace.  These are the values and virtues I hold in high esteem and strive to embrace in my daily walk.  

Occasionally, it's tempting to entertain fleeting thoughts of repaying evil for evil, but I'm forever reminded that some people just aren't worth the energy expended.  So, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes (lessons) from a very wise woman, Maya Angelou, who says this... "The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them."  Now... that's a Wow!