What would you think when staying in a strange nation and someone knocks at your door and says, "Hurry, you need to go now to the airport. Your ticket is for a 1 o'clock flight! You need to come now." Do you obediently follow this limo driver? Who can you call to be sure? After six months in a hotel room, away from your family, doing what you believed was the right thing, this was an unexpected twist. Should you stay or go? Where can you turn?
Most of us are unaware of what foreign seafarers (merchant mariners) experience when in a strange land facing an uncertain experience. They usually know few people — in this case, an attorney who is supposedly looking out for your interests, a chaplain from Seafarer's Friend or a government investigator who seems compassionate. Who will you trust? Was this a trip to nowhere?
The call to the chaplain was clearly filled with anxiety. Though spending months supporting and assisting a seafarer detained as star witness in an environmental trial, the chaplain also was unclear of the best course of action — leave or stay. He immediately visited the seafarer. When entering the room he heard, "Thank you for coming, can you help me?" After many hours of conversation, the seafarer headed home, slightly more at peace, though still facing many more difficulties, yet still unsure of his future.
Why share this vignette? This seafarer is one of thousands sailing the lonely and dangerous seas so you and I can have gasoline, oil and other valuable commodities of daily living. Seafarers live a thankless existence, under the radar of laws, governments and the compassion of most of society. He is one of a few in this world willing to do the right thing, no matter what the hardship. Testifying in the trial, he is likely not to work again, blacklisted as a troublemaker, and thus destined to more struggles at home, where 80 percent unemployment is normal. Be aware, your life is blessed by the sacrifice of others.
Another goal is to suggest that governments and corporate systems are inherently prone to lack concern for the needs and humanity of those most crucial for sustaining them. Yes, though this person was the star witness, his fears seemed unimportant to authorities. His shock when the driver appeared at his door seemed unimportant. Couldn't someone inform him the court trial ended? Couldn't someone call to alert him, much less thank him, for doing his civic duty, especially as a willing participant from another nation? Instead he was left clueless, and returning home unsure it was worth the hardship.
Thank goodness for chaplains, people devoted to coming alongside foreign seafarers visiting our ports daily. Seafarer's Friend welcomes more than 18,000 yearly visiting the ports of Boston, Portsmouth and Portland. Last year, they visited more than 500 vessels that brought essential goods for our economy. It's no small wonder the crews of these vessels call seafarer centers the moment they enter port. Seafarers often express how comforting it is to know chaplains are available and able to intercede for these strangers who are unclear about port or justice system and can be of assistance when needing to make a crucial decision for the future.
I also hope this scenario will increase your appreciation for living in a nation that, despite all the warts and missteps, still treats strangers with more human compassion than most. Seafarers we meet share distrust of their national leaders. We often hear fearfulness of U.S. officials, primarily because they believe we will act as they have experienced in their homeland. Though this seafarer could have been treated better, in the U.S., chaplains can (and are) continuing dialogue with the justice system to make a difference the next time crew are detained.
I am thankful to live in a nation founded on the compassion of leaders who, from their Christian upbringing, designed principles that are essentially biblical in caring for others. We are blessed that when we are dissatisfied, we usually have ability to confront even the systems with which you are dissatisfied. We can be thankful, that as difficult as we think life is, we are better off than so many experiencing danger and loneliness, often to support three or more families living frugally back home.
Wow, we are truly blessed!
• • •
The Rev. J. Loring Carpenter is executive director of Seafarer's Friend, a ministry to seafarers on the ships entering the ports of Boston, Portsmouth and Portland. Look for information on this ministry at www.seafarersfriend.org.
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