As I stood in line at the donut shop recently, a law enforcement officer I know stopped to chat. He asked if I had heard about the suicide of a well-respected and well-liked businessman who was a leader in his church. I had indeed heard the news which both saddened and surprised me. The officer echoed my sentiments and indicated that many were surprised by the man’s death. The officer then commented that the number of home foreclosures in the county was reaching staggering levels. With sadness, he predicted a corresponding rise in the number of suicides. These are trying times and difficult days. What can we as Christians do?

The economic situations facing business owners, single parents, young families and retirees are not new. Every generation has faced economic difficulties and many experience these difficulties while trying to camouflage their pain and distress. These individuals are in our workplaces, schools and churches. They are trying to support their children and keep life as “normal” as possible. Unfortunately, many of them go unnoticed—not so much because they succeed in their camouflage efforts, but perhaps moreso because we are simply dealing with our own problems.

Edwin Arlington Robinson, a noted American poet, chronicled a similar situation in his 1896 poem, “Richard Cory.”

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Nothing about Richard Cory’s appearance or demeanor indicated that he was distressed to the breaking point. His camouflage was apparently sufficient. We meet Richard Corys everyday, and like his townsfolk, because we are unaware of their trials, we do not offer encouragement or hope.

We need to be aware of people at work, school and even at church. We need to engage people in conversation—particularly if they seem a bit glum, withdrawn or even “trying too hard.” We need to be encouragers and good listeners. We must offer them the hope that we have as Christians. Consider the people around you. Invite them to meet you for a mocha at your favorite coffee shop. Invite them to Bible study or to your worship service. Engage them.

What we have is sufficient; God is our faithful provider. Yes, we make poor decisions and waste money, but we do have hope.

As the Apostle Paul stated, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress” (Philippians 4:11-14). We need to share in the distress of those around us—especially those in no apparent distress—even at the risk of seeming nosy. It might save a life and add another to the Kingdom. We have a living hope which sees us through all trials, tribulations, illnesses, financial reverses and foreclosures. Be vigilant. Be diligent. Seek out the Richard Corys to offer them encouragement and hope.

Lanna Martin Kilgore is a practicing attorney and member of Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green