Homegrown Trust
Setting: San Antonio, Texas, the River Walk, Year 1993
It was 100 degrees and the sun shined bright against my white Mickey Mouse t-shirt. The heat was brutal, and it felt like every step was another chance for beads of sweat to fall from my blond mullet to drench my cut off Jean shorts and rolled up tube socks. I remember my legs were heavy from walking the concrete sidewalk that snaked along the river, and my L.A. Gear sneakers felt like concrete blocks on my feet.
I wasn't the only one complaining either. I was leading the pack, and my older brother and sister were sulking on each side of my parents. "How much further is the car?" they kept asking my parents as they moped behind. My parents didn't say a word. I think the sun stripped their energy as well and only left behind rose colored cheeks and a drenched disposition.
I remember time started to slow and I started day dreaming about jumping into the river to cool off when suddenly I heard a voice that woke me from my daydream..."Jon!!!..." As I started to turn around to see who was yelling my name from a distance, I remember feeling a heavy pain on the side if my face that knocked me off my feet. As I came to, and looked up to discover the cause of my clammer, there stood tall a 10 foot crepe myrtle tree in the middle of the sidewalk. Its leaves still shook from the impact. As I turned around, there stood 4 traitors laughing at the top of their lungs. They mocked my pain with their laughter, and I remember crying tears of betrayal. The giggles from my parents stung the most. They were supposed to comfort and protect me, but instead they let the sound of laughter amplify my pain.
Now this moment wasnt a defining moment in my life that carved my path for the present, but even at a young age I remember it was a moment that proved how easily trust can be cracked or broken, and when trust is broken or lacking, one can't build relationships. You have to build trust slowly, and it cant be created. It must be grown. It needs love and truth to reach its roots, and feed its flowers. Only then will trust reach for the light and flourish.
It was 100 degrees and the sun shined bright against my white Mickey Mouse t-shirt. The heat was brutal, and it felt like every step was another chance for beads of sweat to fall from my blond mullet to drench my cut off Jean shorts and rolled up tube socks. I remember my legs were heavy from walking the concrete sidewalk that snaked along the river, and my L.A. Gear sneakers felt like concrete blocks on my feet.
I wasn't the only one complaining either. I was leading the pack, and my older brother and sister were sulking on each side of my parents. "How much further is the car?" they kept asking my parents as they moped behind. My parents didn't say a word. I think the sun stripped their energy as well and only left behind rose colored cheeks and a drenched disposition.
I remember time started to slow and I started day dreaming about jumping into the river to cool off when suddenly I heard a voice that woke me from my daydream..."Jon!!!..." As I started to turn around to see who was yelling my name from a distance, I remember feeling a heavy pain on the side if my face that knocked me off my feet. As I came to, and looked up to discover the cause of my clammer, there stood tall a 10 foot crepe myrtle tree in the middle of the sidewalk. Its leaves still shook from the impact. As I turned around, there stood 4 traitors laughing at the top of their lungs. They mocked my pain with their laughter, and I remember crying tears of betrayal. The giggles from my parents stung the most. They were supposed to comfort and protect me, but instead they let the sound of laughter amplify my pain.
Now this moment wasnt a defining moment in my life that carved my path for the present, but even at a young age I remember it was a moment that proved how easily trust can be cracked or broken, and when trust is broken or lacking, one can't build relationships. You have to build trust slowly, and it cant be created. It must be grown. It needs love and truth to reach its roots, and feed its flowers. Only then will trust reach for the light and flourish.
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