When Lee Kravitz was laid off from his job as editor of Parade magazine he decided to reassess his life. Although just fifty-four, this self-professed workaholic discovered he had become disconnected from people in his life that really mattered to him. These thoughts were triggered while looking through a box of mementoes, reflecting on the things he should have done, but didn’t. With his wife’s blessing, Kravitz decided to devote the next year to completing unfinished business, which resulted in his book Unfinished Business: One Man’s Extraordinary Year of Trying to Do the Right Things.
Kravitz traveled the world, seeking out those he felt he needed to see. He visited an old friend who is now a monk, repaid a $600 loan to another, forgave a high school bully, reconnected with a mentally ill aunt, fulfilled a promise to an underprivileged boy, said thank you to a teacher who mentored him, and the list goes on. Along the way he met some interesting people which opened doors for more personal and spiritual growth.
In a Reader’s Digest interview Kravitz says, “Every experience was just so much richer than I could have imagined. I rediscovered the parts of myself that were compassionate, sensitive, and adventurous.”
Kravitz must have had a hefty severance or an advance on his book in order to be able to afford to take a year for this mission. Most of us don’t have that kind of time or money, but this book is a reminder not to neglect those who are most important to us. We don’t need lots of money to make a phone call, write a note of appreciation, send a sympathy card, email a friend, repay a kindness, or just say the words “I’m sorry” or “thank you.”
The great apostle Paul was not above being appreciative. In a letter to the Romans Paul takes the time to openly thank those who held a special place in his heart. (Romans 16:1-16) This is not just a list of names for Paul takes the time to mention why these people are special to him. Phoebe had been a help to many people including Him. Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him. Andronicus and Junia were in prison with him. Rufus was like a mother to him.
Not only was he appreciative of what they had done for him, but for what they had done for the church. Epaenetus, Urband, Stachys, Apelles, etc. were fellow workers approved by Christ. And he was not above giving praise to women during an historical time when women were more to be seen than heard. Mary, Persius, Tryphena, Tryphosa (maybe they were twins?), and so on – all worked hard in the Lord.
How many of us have been touched by the lives of others but neglect to let them know? We don’t have to wait for years to go by or to be laid off going through a memory box to have an epiphany like Kravitz did. If special friends and certain family members are important to us we can develop a daily habit of letting them know. Some ideas might be writing a note of appreciation, visiting a sick friend, sending a card of encouragement, repaying a debt, forgiving an oversight, making amends, reconnecting, or just telling someone you love them. You might not get a book deal out of it and make lots of money, but your life will be richer for the effort.
