Touching Spirit Bear - Pre Reading

Trust:

The definition for the word trust is the “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something”.  Most of the time, it is very difficult to earn someone’s trust. Usually, it doesn’t happen overnight. It can take months, or even years, to gain someone’s trust. The person becomes able to trust you over time by small things that you do, like keeping secrets, sticking by them, or giving advice. Sometimes, however, trust is earned very quickly. This is usually the result of a dramatic event. For example, in “Touching Spirit Bear”, Cole begins to trust the others and himself, but only after he is nearly killed in a fight when he is mauled by a mysterious white “Spirit Bear”. It takes still longer for the others to trust Cole because of his previous record. The more times someone betrays your trust, the harder it is to trust them again.
There are many circumstances where it is difficult to trust someone. Either they have treated you poorly in the past, or someone else has. Gaining someone’s trust is slow work. If you seem too forward, a cautious person will think you want something from them and trust you even less. In this method, there is no absolute point where the person suddenly  decides to trust you. They gradually begin to see that they can trust you. Even starting this process will take time. When something horrible happens, people that usually would not be friends are brought together. This can be seen all the time in today’s news. When an event, such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or disease strikes an area, the inhabitants seem to band together to get through it. People who didn’t know each other the day before are suddenly looking out for each other, living in the same shelter with each other, and sharing food and stories with each other.
If someone breaks your trust, it is only natural that you will be wary to trust them again in the future. I can remember this movie quote, “You crossed ___. You are willing to cross ___. Why should I expect any different?” Even if the person did not betray your trust, if they have betrayed someone else, you still have reason to not trust them. It is even harder to trust someone if the betrayal is personal. Some people are more forgiving than others, but what I have learned from reading “Touching Spirit Bear” is that it is difficult to forgive people, but if you do, you will trust them as well. 

In conclusion, trust is not a word to be used lightly. Trust is not to be given lightly, either. There is always the risk that someone will break your trust. Trust is either gained very slowly, or very rapidly. After trust is broken, it is extremely difficult to gain back. In “Touching Spirit Bear” there are at least five different times when people have trouble trusting, and many more in the main character’s past.