Speed of Trust

I was reading Gary Gunderson's "Leading Causes of Life" blog this morning and was struck by a phrase he used. He was reflecting on the growth of the Congregational Health Network in Memphis that he has overseen for 6+ years. He said, "We move at the speed of trust." Wow, isn't that the most truthful statement that's been uttered in a while? I was floored by the elegance and the veracity of the statement - a living reality reduced to bumper sticker size for easy consumption. Seemingly everything we do to build community moves at this speed - it is an immutable natural law. I was able to spend two days with Gary's group in May 2011. They are doing some wonderful work linking faith communities, healthcare providers, public health professionals and social service agencies to markedly improved the health of the greater Memphis community. They have linked over 450 faith communities with the hospitals in town and created a sustainable model for improved care - especially aftercare. Marvelous work by a lot of truly gifted people! They were clear however, that they were only able to make headway by building webs of trust and connection with the people they were serving. The first few faith communities were difficult and it took a while to build the relationship - but now, just a few years later, they are an award winning, successful enterprise. Lack of trust makes everything more difficult - it breeds a level of fear and distrust that can choke the life out of a good idea. I'm struggling with that lack of trust right now, both in my home and with my public charity. Once trust is broken, then much energy has to be allotted to mending relationships and rebuilding structures until trust is once again regained. Trust is built one stair-step at a time, but is broken in a manner that resembles falling off a cliff. Rebuilding is an arduous and energy consuming activity that can leave all parties depleted. Conversely, when trust is gained things can build and energy is sufficient for miraculous achievements. This week as we continue through Lent, think about how quickly trust is moving you in both your secular and spiritual lives. Do you really trust in a faithful and loving G-d? Do you trust the other children of G-d that make up your world? Remember, we can only build the Kingdom at the speed of trust. Peace for the journey, Dan