That we all crave social contact has become painfully clear in the past weeks \u2013 we do not do well in self isolation, especially in quarantine. If there is any upside to the current crisis, it might be that we are learning that we need each other and we can\u2019t take each other for granted. But how do we respond to that need? Enormous sums are being spent to tackle the health care and economic fallout of the crisis, but what about the social challenges that will inevitably result, especially the harmful impacts of prolonged social isolation? We might learn how to reach out to each other at this time from the example of seafarers\u2019 centres, which take care of seafarers in social isolation regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seafarers\u2019 centres exist to help solve the small but\nimportant challenges facing seafarers in a foreign port: how to get WiFi, a\ntube of toothpaste, or a ride to the local market to buy some chocolate, for\ninstance. These sound like trivial problems, but, unlike airports, seaports are\nnot designed to make it easy and convenient for those visiting to find what\nthey need. Without help, seafarers often end up spending too much of their\nhard-earned money and shore leave organizing a ride to the shops, finding the\nthings that they need, and getting back to the ship on time. Seafarers\u2019 centres, often religious\nnon-profits surviving off of donations and volunteer labour, offer\ntransportation and WiFi in a low-cost, convenient, and stress-free manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Providing convenience and low prices are not the main\nreasons these charities exist, however. \nSocial isolation is inherent in the life of a seafarer: they are apart\nfrom family and friends for months at a time and have limited opportunities for\ncommunication with them. Irregular hours, a tight schedule, and language\nbarriers can make even the ship itself an isolating work environment. The\nprimary mission of a seafarers\u2019 centre, and the one that has been most\nconsistent over the history of seafarers\u2019 centres, is not services, but being a\nfriendly welcome in a faraway place. It is the people of the seafarers\u2019 center\n\u2013 its staff, chaplains, and volunteers \u2013 that are at the core of accomplishing\nthis mission. They exist to break down what social isolation has built up in\nthe lives of seafarers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A friendly welcome is not complicated: \u201cHello. Welcome! How\nare you doing?\u201d Yet, to be done right, this welcome is something that takes\nresources and planning. Breaking down social isolation is not done passively,\nby sitting on our hands waiting for seafarers to ask us to reach out to them, but\ntakes effort: we need to organize drop-in centres, transport buses, and a team\nof ship visitors to make sure it happens. \nMany also stay in contact with seafarers who have left their ports,\nwhether by facebook, whatsapp, or even snail mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the same way, in the present crisis, social isolation\nwill not be confronted by sitting on our hands and thinking a few good\nthoughts. The need for action rests not only with governments or business, but\nwith kind-hearted, ordinary citizens: you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharing on social media about the plight of others or about\nsocial isolation is not enough \u2013 that is a passive response, not an active one.\nSocial media is too often a world of good intentions and impersonality, not\naction and relationships. It is all well and good to share news, but that is\nnot something that will really counteract social isolation. That comes from\nreal contact and a genuine, caring human voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the public health sphere, we all know that action is more\nimportant than information. The virus cares nothing for good intentions we\nbroadcast if we don\u2019t actually follow what health authorities are saying; we\nneed to actively wash our hands and stay away from crowds to flatten the\ncurve. The same with good intentions and\nthe effects of social isolation: don\u2019t wait for people to call you, pick up the\nphone and call. Learn from the example of seafarers\u2019 centres in working through\nthe complications: if someone doesn\u2019t have access to technology, maybe write\nthem a letter; if you know someone who is especially isolated and difficult to\nreach, think about what needs to happen for them to be reached and what other\nneeds they might have. Your voice and gesture of concern is the answer to the\ncrippling loneliness and fear others (and quite possibly we ourselves) are feeling\nat this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you haven\u2019t already done so, pick up the phone today and\ncall someone who might want to talk. Ask if there is anything that you can do.\nMake it a daily goal for the duration of the crisis to call one person for no\nother reason than to say, \u201cHow are you doing?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And remember that in our current crisis the social isolation\nof seafarers has only been compounded – they are often not allowed ashore, they\nare away from family members at risk, and many at the end of their contracts\nare being blocked from returning home by travel bans. Others are unable to get\nto the ships with which they were starting contracts and are in financial\nhardship back home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seafarers are the human heart of maritime commerce and the\nreason we have goods on our store shelves. \nWe can\u2019t expect our pantries to be full and not care about the people\nthat brought that food here. Social media is rightly full of thanks to medical\nprofessionals at this time who are putting themselves in the path of danger to\ntreat those with the virus, but transport workers are equally essential –\nremember to be thankful to them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No doubt, the economic costs of the present crisis are staggering. Business and government leaders around the globe are deep in discussion to mitigate losses. But the social costs will be real as well. As a society, we do not do well cooped up in our homes by ourselves. We are meant to have contact with each other \u2013 it is not good for humans to be alone (Gen 2:18). Some of us are privileged to be with our spouses and children, yet a huge number have no one else to pass the days or are essential workers who have little or no contact with their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make that extra effort today to call someone who might be alone. It is a small gesture with big meaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n