Mary Hears Our Cries

By Joe Sullivan, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

“Those people are just horrible!” Sam just got out of his group session, climbed into the back seat of the car I was driving in my medical transport job, and just continued griping. “The staff is awful! They just don’t care! They would not give me my dose because I came late. My ride was late. Now I have to start the whole program over!” 

Sam came to Arizona and said he hates every minute of it. “This is the worst state! The people are bad! I’d rather live anywhere else! The hospital lost my ID and my Social Security Card. I have no decent clothes. No one could hire me even if they wanted to.” 

He asked me if Dr. Death (Dr. Kevorkian) was still alive ‘Cuz I could really use his services’. His voice was strained and he had a very serious, frustrated tone. Sam was in a very dark place and he was not joking. “I am ready to leave this awful world. Why would God create such a world of suffering?!” I remained silent and listened. I listened and listened some more. Then there was a very long silence. 

After a long while during the 40-minute ride, Sam cut through the silence. “I keep praying and praying but it doesn’t help.” There was a faint cry in his voice. “The people here are such hypocrites. At least in the bible belt people have faith.” 

I told Sam about my three days and three nights being lost in the Arizona wilderness. How much I prayed to Mary. I pointed to the beautiful image of Our Lady of Sorrows on the sun visor of the car. When we got to the destination, I pulled out my wallet and gave him $60 (all the cash I had), a grocery card, and an image of Our Lady of Sorrows. His eyes beamed and his lower lip quivered. 

“She understands you,” I said to him. 

“I will pray to her,” Sam softly cried.