Missing People

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I watched a documentary called “Dreams of a Life”.  It’s about a thirty-eight-year-old beautiful and vibrant North London woman, named Joyce Vincent who died of natural causes in 2003. Although it’s untimely and unexpected, many people die of natural causes at an early age. What’s devastating about Joyce’s death is that she died and lay dead undiscovered in her apartment for three years. As time passed during this three year period, there were no inquiries made of her whereabouts from friends or family. No one questioned the ghastly odor coming from her apartment. She was between jobs so there was no employer to question her absence. Her mail was delivered daily and her electricity was left running. Joyce’s rent had been paid in advance so her landlord had no need to contact her. Ultimately, Joyce was discovered by officials from a North London housing association who barged through her door to repossess furniture after receiving no payment for several months. There was found Joyce’s skeleton sitting in a chair. Her television was still on and the floor was covered with piles of mail that had been delivered through the mail slot of the apartment door.

After watching this documentary I thought how on earth could this happen to someone? How can a person so easily vanish from everyone’s thoughts? Then I thought, could I have been one of those people who would’ve forgotten Joyce Vincent? The people that God places in our lives are not there by coincidence. Sometimes people are in our lives for a lifetime or for a season. Whatever the duration, we should maximize every God-given opportunity to genuinely love and appreciate people. By doing this if any of the people in our lives are absent, we will miss them and inquire about their absence. In 2013, I challenge you to do the following in your relationships:

1. Genuinely Listen – When asking someone, “how are you doing?” really be interested in receiving and listening to their responses. I am so guilty of asking someone “”how they are doing” while walking past them at 50 miles per hour without a second glance. In 2013, I want to make it my goal to stop and genuinely listen.
2. Let God Pick Your Friends – People often pray for God to send them a spouse. Why not pray for God to send you friends. We often think and are told who we should surround ourselves with. This is often based on human reasoning. In 2013, I want to step out on faith and boldness and ask God to help me build relationships with people who are outside of my comfort zone.
3. Communicate Genuinely – Social media, email and text messages are great ways to stay in contact with people. However, these forms of communication are corroding away the simple art of conducting face-to-face conversations. While out with friends I often find myself checking and sending text messages. In 2013, I want to communicate genuinely. I am going to challenge myself to focus and maximize opportunities to talk with people on the phone or in person.
4. Move Beyond Pretentious Friendships – A pretentious friendship is a very self-centered and superficial type of friendship. True friendship transcends race, culture and many other differences. Pretentious friendships are usually based on what can be exploited from others for selfish reasons and when someone is no longer needed, they are discarded. This is not the model that Jesus set for us. In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” In 2013, I challenge you to look beyond appearance, popularity and personal gain as a motivation for building friendships.
5. Look for “Missing People” – Take action when the Holy Spirit brings to mind a person that you haven’t seen in a long time and reach out to them and ask how they are doing. The fact that you cared enough to ask about them will mean so much more than you know. God wants us to look for missing people because seeking people who are lost is His heartbeat. In 2013, I am going to ask God to use me to reach out to anyone who is missing and needs help or encouragement.

In conclusion, I hope that there is never another documentary made about someone like Joyce Vincent. In 2013, I hope I can make a difference and be on the lookout for missing people. Will you join me in making this commitment? Lives will be blessed and God would truly be glorified. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). Have a blessed and wonderful New Year.