The Poorest of the Poor in the Gulf of Mexico

As I listened to ongoing news of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I was drawn to the story of a fisherman I had seen several times on the early morning national news. He was a middle aged man (husband and father of several children). This gentleman depended upon the Gulf for his livelihood.

As thousands upon thousands of gallons of oil poured into the Gulf, this fisherman immediately made as many fishing trips out into the Gulf to harvest all of the fish, oysters, and other sea food that he possibly could before it would no longer be safe to do so. When he was no longer able to fish, his boat became one of many used to attempt to confine the oil.

The news that I had turned to, once again featured this fisherman. So distraught by his loss and his inability to change his dismal financial situation and overwhelming concern for his wife and family, this gentleman took his own life. Several days after his death, this gentleman's wife reported that he had lost over 30 pounds since the oil spill. She further reported that he had grown increasingly restless and despondent and that he would not be consoled. No one, it is said, expected that he would take his life.

Many of poor whom we meet day after day in our ministries, live one step away from similar despondency and unrest. Often, they don't share their deep hurt and loss of self esteem because that honesty doesn't benefit them in their day to day lives. Many of the poor with whom I walk in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, take their own lives through alcohol and drug abuse while the reasons behind their substance abuse are not recognized as coming from the painful poverty of loneliness, lack of reasonable and safe housing, inability to maintain loving relationships, and shame.

Throughout these several months of continuing oil spillage into the Gulf, we have heard promises that BP will pay for damages. How does one ameliorate the loss of hope, ability to care for one's families, long term depression and the like? As Franciscan Christians, you and I are called to stand side by side, arm in arm, of those who suffer depression, and who experience the dependency that can and often does, lead to suicide and other self induced injuries and deaths. Our Father, Francis didn't trivialize or ignore the plight of the destitute, depressed, and needy. He reached out to them with the love of the Christ and spoke to them of hope that springs from the Christ.

How do we respond in similar circumstances?