The chaos seems very angry. We wake up in the morning to find an upside-down world where fear and anxiousness stands knocking at our doors.

However, during this time we have an opportunity to become more aware of the whisper in the silence: 'Be still and know, I am the Lord'. This is why we at the CSO wish to give you hope and encouragement by sharing the stories of the men working at sea.  

It is a double-edged sword. The first cut is to remind you that, within your own circumstances, you could listen carefully in the silence. It does not matter whether you are isolated in your room, flat or home, or whether you are working on the front-line to combat the invisible monster that threatens to devour us. Each of us must be aware of the whisper and knowledge at all times: 'Be still and know, I am the Lord'.

The second cut is to shine the spotlight on often forgotten heroes. All over the world men working at sea are trapped on ships. They are the hostages of the chaos. At the moment they are not welcome anywhere.  

We received this from a Captain: 'I completed my contract on 2nd March, could not sign off as we were in South Korean & Chinese ports. In Singapore today, cannot sign off as we were in China 4 days ago. I was to sign off from Colombo around the 22nd, reliever packed & ready with his ticket, as of Sunday, Colombo has suspended crew changes. Next port after Colombo is Lome, West Africa, a 3 week sailing. Just heard even they have suspended crew changes.  Dunno how long we will get stuck here.'

The fact is that no country in the world currently allows seafaring men to cross their borders. Every single border is blocked to them and for the moment, including the foreseeable future, thousands of seafaring men are stranded on board ships.  

It is ironic, because the goods transported by ships are the things that are essential to our lives. It is men working at sea that ensures the maintenance and sustainability of the United Nations Food Programme. Without the work of these men that spend their lives on ships, millions will die of hunger. They ensure that you will find something on the shelf when you next go to Spar or Checkers to buy some essentials. The seamen are responsible for ensuring availability of the fuel an ambulance will need to help someone in an emergency. The medicine you buy at the chemist? Most of that also arrived by ship. These men are absolutely essential in the supply chain required to keep our world afloat.   

Yet, the message is clear: We need all that you bring, but we do not want you! Bring what we need, but you may not step ashore. 

We do not want to question the measures during this time of chaos, but we do want to shine a light on the heroes that so few know about. They have fears too. They are also insecure and anxious… We are doing what we can in various ways to remind them of the whisper in the silence too.  

As we travel through this strange phase and when you receive our weekly e-mail, please know that there is a soft whisper in the silence, no matter where you are. Please remember these men that keep our world afloat in your prayers. Pray that they too, will hear the whisper and experience the truth while sailing on the open seas during these insecure times. Pray that they will hear and know: 'Be still and know, I am the Lord'.