There was a young man in our city who felt isolated and alone. I don’t know his name, I don’t know his address, his family or his occupation because he was a misfit in our society.
There was no one to turn to during a Christmas season of love and hope and family. The churches turned him away, our community had nothing to do with him. How could someone survive without a word, a hug, some hope, some compassion?
Well, he couldn’t, so he hanged himself out in the woods. He was 23 years old and homeless.
Was there a funeral? A memorial service? Does his family even know?
This is one story out of hundreds that surround our community. My heart breaks for a lost soul who will never have a chance.
There is a stereotype most people have in their minds. Homeless? Drug addicts. Thieves. Losers. But what gives us the right to paint everyone with a black brush of hate and disgust?
There is approximately 30 per cent of the Canadian population who are living paycheque to paycheque. If they lose their jobs, they lose their savings trying to keep the mortgage payments up. They sell everything they can to keep going. It’s not enough. They lose the house, the vehicle, the furniture, the bills keep coming in. Where can they go?
It doesn’t take much to lose everything in one stroke of bad fortune. Think about it.
I just felt that our community should know of the despair and hopelessness that surrounds us. I ask the churches to please say a prayer for this young man and others who have lost the fight to live in this wet, cold environment. And I’m not talking exclusively about weather.
I know that I wouldn’t want to die alone.
Elaine Thompson
Parksville
