There are few things in life that scare me more than trust.  It's not because I have a 100% do-it myself mentality; It doesn't even root in control; it's just trusting can turn out so very painful.

The analogy of trust that always pops into my head is that somewhat trite game that's played at summer camps and team building retreats where one person turns their back to another person, then continues by falling on them.  The idea is that the person falling, simply does just that, and the person catching, simply does their job.  It's basic.  The rest of the group usually cheers or nods approvingly (depending on the energy level of the group) and in some roundabout way this proves trust.

Now, I'll be honest with you, there's at least 100 people I'd fall on, but to me, that is not trust.  Trust is more than a single action, it's a lifestyle that exhibits consistent faith in something.  To trust God is not to know the outcome therefore agree with God, it's not to say it, or do it once, or even twice; it's a way of living that constantly chooses to walk out in faith and hope, trusting God will not forsake you and will teach you what is best.  Trust is vital to religion.

Unfortunately, trust, is also vital to relationships (not to the same degree as religion, however).  I say unfortunately, because in friendships and intimacy you are no longer putting trust into a perfect, benevolent creator, but rather a broken, confused individual.  That's when it becomes tricky; that's when it can hurt.  

There has to be a middle ground, a safe place of trust, or maybe it's something developed and proved over time, regardless, it's so hard.  Still, if you place all your trust in God, then even if you loose the trust of an individual, you will ultimately be just as fulfilled.  But just like falling on the individual in the "youth group trust game," you can't treat it as a gamble or an eventual failure, or else you aren't going to be able to successfully fall.

I remember one time in high school I (with a group of friends) repelled off a bridge.  It was a class, so we were all looking out for each other, and one of the head guys was the one at the top encouraging me.  With embarrassingly shaky hands, and admittedly not the strongest of legs, I slowly made my way down the cement portion of the bridge.  Honestly, I was so nervous I was dizzy.  Once I made it to the part where I had to let go of the cement bridge, flip upside down, then re-level out, completing the last three-fourths of the bridge by lowering myself through the rope in mid air, I became terrified.  I did not, could not, let my now almost dancing (from shaking so hard) feet leave the cement safety.  It was all happening so fast, and I couldn't exactly predict what was going to happen next; most of me believed I'd flip upside down at lightening speed and bang into the bridge, suffering a concussion.  Then I remember the guy at the top, he made complete eye contact with me, and kept a calm steady voice, telling me exactly what to do and that I could do it.  Somehow, amidst my minor hysteria, I believed him.  I saw that finishing my decent off the bridge was the wisest thing that I could do, and that competent or not, I was going to have to brave it.  So I did, and it really wasn't so bad.

Maybe, eventually, I have to let go of the cement.