Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. A culture of trust yields peace and confidence.

 

So what does an image of the moon have to do with trust? Simple. The moon is consistent, always there in one of its phases. When you look to the sky in the night, you will see it somewhere in the spectrum. Even when clouds obscure it, you know it is there.  You can rely upon the moon's presence. Reliability engenders trust.

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Good government is like the moon in that regard. It will consistently fulfill its purpose to safeguard the wellfare of people through changing phases and circumstances. 

 

Abraham Lincoln understood the importance of integrity and consistency as it relates to trust, how easily it can be lost. "If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." (Speech at Clinton, Illinois, September 8, 1854.)

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Good government in each of the many touch points with its constituency will consistently and intentionally focus upon benefit to the person with whom it interacts, not leading with rules to be obeyed but with solutions to be discovered. Even at a point of disagreement when statutes must be enforced, good government will work to find reasonable ways to help.  Consistency of other-focused intentionality over time builds a culture of trust. A culture of trust yields peace and confidence in a community.

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It is that we wish to experience. It is that for which we pray.