Another recall and with it another apology! Toyota is beleaguered these days. First it was a sticky gas pedal. Then it was failing brakes. They are dealing with a huge global recall but more significantly it is a loss of public confidence. Toyota earned its status based on reliability. Their trustworthy reputation has crumbled and with every new recall and every new report they drop lower on the reliability scale of public opinion.

Adam Giambrone withdrew from the Toronto mayoralty race after admitting to several affairs. In his speech he apologized to his long-time partner, his family & friends and his supporters. Now there is call for him to step down from current positions of authority because he can’t be trusted.

Colonel Russell Williams, base commander at Canada’s largest military base, was arrested on Sunday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder of two young women in the Trenton and Tweed area. General Walter Natynczyk, the Chief of Defence staff said in a news conference that Canada’s military is in a “state of shock” over the arrest of one of their own. I would hasten to add so are many Canadians.

Each news report speaks of loss of confidence because trust was broken. Much of our sacred story is about building trust. In the Hebrew scripture there are many stories of God making a covenant with the people; a sacred trust. Much of our life is carried out with a sense of trust. We trust that those who build our cars will make sure the brakes work. We trust that those giving leadership in our political system will be honest and faithful. We trust that those whose vocation it is to protect and defend will not harm.

When trust is broken it is hard to regain. Forgiveness is required. Grace is required. Acceptance is required.

When has your trust in another been broken? What did the other have to do to regain your confidence? When have you broken the trust of another? What did you have to do to regain his/her trust?