There's nobody that's ever really been able to take care of me.

"There's nobody that's ever really been able to take care of me. Johnny did for a bit. I believed what he said. Like if I said, 'What do I do?' he'd tell me. And that's what I missed when I left. I really lost that gauge of somebody I could trust." These words, spoken by Kate Moss, cut to the heart of a timeless human truth—the need for trust and the comfort of knowing someone is there to guide you through life's uncertainties. Kate Moss speaks of a relationship where she found solace, clarity, and direction. Johnny, perhaps a mentor or a partner, became the person who could provide the guidance she needed. In moments of confusion, his words were her compass. But when she lost that guidance, she was adrift. This loss of someone she could trust as a gauge left a void, a feeling of being untethered in a world full of choices.

In the ancient world, trust was considered one of the cornerstones of wisdom and leadership. Take, for example, the story of King David of Israel, who, despite his greatness as a warrior and king, found solace in the counsel of Jonathan, his dear friend. Their bond was one not just of friendship but of mutual trust. David, even as he led armies and made decisions for an entire nation, was often guided by Jonathan’s wisdom. In the face of turmoil, David could trust Jonathan’s words as the truth, providing a clarity that no other could give. In times of doubt, when the world seemed unclear, it was Jonathan who offered a steady hand. Similarly, Moss speaks of a moment in her life when Johnny was her guide, and the trust she placed in him gave her clarity and a sense of security. Without that, she lost a part of herself, as if the compass that directed her steps had vanished.

The ancient Greeks, too, understood the significance of trust and guidance in shaping a person's journey. Socrates, the great philosopher, often relied on the wisdom of his companions to guide him in his quest for truth. He did not claim to know everything, nor did he act alone. Instead, he trusted his students and fellow philosophers, allowing their insights to shape his thinking. Socrates understood that wisdom was a shared journey, one that required guidance from others who had the clarity of insight he lacked in certain moments. Kate Moss reflects this same idea—her sense of direction was shaped by someone she could trust, someone who helped her find her path in times of uncertainty.

But what happens when that trusted figure is no longer there? Moss reflects on a profound sense of loss when she no longer had Johnny's guidance. This sense of loss echoes the experience of Achilles in Homer's Iliad. Achilles, the greatest warrior in the Greek army, was at the peak of his powers. Yet, when his closest companion, Patroclus, was killed, Achilles was overcome with grief. His trust in Patroclus was not just emotional, but foundational. Patroclus was his confidant, his sounding board. Without him, Achilles lost the ability to make sense of the chaos around him. Similarly, Kate Moss’s words speak to the loss of a guide—someone who helped her navigate life’s uncertainties. When Johnny was no longer there, the world became less clear, and her sense of self became harder to grasp.

In the story of Helen of Troy, we see another example of how trust in others can shape the course of a life. Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, trusted in the alliances forged with those around her. She had been guided and protected by powerful figures, yet the destruction of Troy was set into motion by betrayals and miscommunications. Helen’s loss of trust in those who promised protection left her in a position of vulnerability. Though her beauty and status offered her worldly advantages, it was her relationships, the trust she placed in those around her, that ultimately defined her fate. Like Moss, Helen’s journey was shaped by the trust she gave to others and the impact of losing that trust.

The lesson here, dear listeners, is that trust is one of the most precious commodities in human relationships. It allows us to navigate the uncertainties of life, to make sense of the chaos, and to find clarity in times of doubt. But just as Moss reflects, there are moments when that trust is lost, and with it, a sense of direction. It is a reminder that trust must be carefully nurtured and not taken for granted. To lose it is to lose a vital part of ourselves, a compass by which we can measure our choices and our path forward.

In your own life, reflect on the people who guide you, the individuals whose advice and counsel shape your decisions. Are you nurturing these relationships? Are you investing in the trust that forms the foundation of those connections? Kate Moss’s words call us to be mindful of the power of trust and the impact of losing it. Trust is not just about receiving guidance; it is about offering it, sharing in the mutual journey of growth and clarity. Seek to build and maintain these relationships, knowing that in times of uncertainty, they will be your gauge and your steady hand, just as Johnny was to Moss and Jonathan was to David.