No One Who Cares: Quiet Desperation

It often seems like there is no one who cares, as sometimes, people go about their lives in a state of quiet desperation. On the other hand, everyone seems to care about others who always tend to live in the spotlight. With a pending election, it may be a good time to eavesdrop on Frank, an unemployed, factory worker in his mid-fifties. He is sitting outside on his patio deck.  

“There is no point in telling anyone else about my troubles, God,” Frank said, quietly. “When I do, they invariably try to take over my life and usually mess it up. People are great fixer-uppers, but over the years, I have learned it is wiser to turn directly to you.”

He remained silent for a moment, as if deep in thought.

“I started working at the bottom of the ladder when I dropped out of high school at age sixteen. I worked for thirty-five years on the same job and never missed a single day. No one was more dedicated. I took a lot of pride in my work.”

Frank paused as if waiting for a response. 

“Times and technology gradually changed and our company was finally declared obsolete. I became unemployed along with all of the other baby boomers. There was no longer work for any of us.”

Frank’s tearful expression revealed he was grieving for his lost job.

“Our original job descriptions no longer exist. We had all expected to retire with full pensions, but they disappeared too. The company let us all go very suddenly, without any notice when they went out of business and declared bankruptcy. None of us received a settlement or re-training.”

Frank took a deep breath, as if he was relieved to get things off his chest.

“For years, we joked about being like a collection of mindless robots on a mass production, assembly line. Now our original, mechanical parts have worn out. They cannot be replaced and we are left having to fend for ourselves. Most of us have wives and families to support. We are living lives of quiet desperation. There is no one who cares, God.”

 Frank continued to speak, in spite of the fact that the only one who was listening to him was God.

“God, there is no one who cares, do you?”