"Trust"

During the recent Mayor and City Council campaigns in Macon, Georgia we often heard a lot about being responsible. Voters were left to sieve out the chaft and hopefully select the best candidate to become the next "Servant Leader."

In recent years we have all been exposed to a plethora of reality shows which eliminate contestants. The usual statement before being eliminated is: "The People Have Spoken."

While the reality shows are simply entertainment, the candidates winning an election have hopefully earned the Trust of the voters.

Recent local events and events on the National scene are causes for concern. Inadequate supply of toilet paper a few months ago at Fort Stewart in Southeast Georgia prompted Middle School Students in the State of Washington to ship the needed paper. Locally, the procurement and/or storage problems involving toilet paper caused Fire Department personnel to have to procure their own paper at their expense for use while on duty at the various Fire Stations.

This past week the disaster of the broken bridge captued all the media headlines and attention. Of course this is only correct and proper. Everyone needs to know of this disaster.

Our duly elected officials at all levels need to be held accountable!! If a governmental agency cannot supply something as mundane, but also necessary, as toilet paper; how can we the voters trust these same agencies to manage the "Big Stuff?" Certainly something to consider and also give some serious thought to.

All this background allowed me to quickly recall the concepts I learned in "Boot Camp" after I first joined the United States Navy. Our Company Commander informed us all that we certainly had the intelligence and necessary training background to do well in our careers, be they a one term enlistment or a twenty year career. If we could be trusted to perform out duties, we would advance and thus gain more responsibilities. Additionally we would achieve higher paygrades and make more money. Yet all of this relied on Trust.

While not totally germane to this Blog, I do recall this quote from the Parable of the Ten Minas: "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away."

The Flower Child's Summary: If I cannot trust you with a little project, how can I trust you with projects that carry great risk, more responsibilities and also dangerous consequences should you perform poorly.

That sort of sounds like a parent in conversation with a teenager who wants to gain the responsibility of driving the family vehicle on our Streets and Highways.

When we place our trust in a person we place our confidence in that person. We expect that person to be reliable. Certainly the toilet paper problem is minute, unless you are the potential user who learns that the holder is empty and you have already placed yourself in the situation where you need it. The Bridge problems are very serious. In fact you could call this situation a National Disaster. Who can we trust as regards our own safety? It is difficult for the Flower Child to rely on anyone who cannot be trusted managing the small things, much less the larger serious issues that we all face.

Hopefully the sieving process is working well in Macon, Georgia.