I type, copy and paste, and say the word BEACH hundreds of times per month in compiling news stories, updating the website, and emailing parishioners around our diocese.  The term is part of many diocesan church names, several email addresses, and multiple locations of diocesan events. I grew up going to the beach, as did many of you. My children grew up on the bay and beaches, as did many of your children.  I've ridden in boats around the oil rigs, admired fish caught near the rigs, have eaten fish caught from around the rigs. I've grown up seeing the tall, steel structures in the waters of the gulf.  Its been a wonderful life on the gulf coast. I haven't really challenged the idea of oil rigs in our gulf. I've left it to the "activists" as I continue to use fuel heavily....and daily.  Things have been just peachy.  

Now the word BEACH has taken on a complex, emotion ridden meaning as oil continues to gush relentlessly into our gulf.  I am furious. We are the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and a large percentage of us live on or near a beach. We worship near a beach, we go to school near a beach, we do our outreach projects near a beach, and those further north come down and vacation on the beach.

Its hard to find humility when a situation is so unfathomable and infuriating. Pray that I and all involved can find humility.  Pray that I and others who are so angry will channel our fury into positive energy and action to protect and save our beaches and marshes, to wash our oil covered birds, to heal and set free our sea animals, and to care for those individuals who are in need.

Pray that we can integrate a larger percentage of alternative fuel sources into our lives. Pray that those of us who have been lazy about fuel conservation, will become more educated on the subject and make changes.

Using the Prayer for the Gulf Coast and reading the Litany for the Gulf Coast in a time of crisis has helped keep the anger somewhat at bay, even if only for a bit. Admittedly, when I read the news I become angry again. 

I update our oil crisis page daily.  Visit it often to see how you can help.


Peace.

My children on Navarre's white beaches..Easter 1995. 

And thanks for reading my rant.

Cindy McCrory
Director of Communications,
E-Content Manager
coastline@diocgc.org

* Header photo:

Demonstrators stand with a 50-foot banner in front of the White House Tuesday, May 11, 2010, in Washington. The 50-foot banner was signed by Gulf residents and marched from the Department of Interior to the White House. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)