Nonexistent

Written by cycleguy on January 13th, 2016

Have you ever felt like you didn’t exist? Like you didn’t count or matter to anyone?

I want you to know that as I write this it is my ghost writer. Or maybe it is I am writing as a ghost. Because you see, I don’t exist.

True fact.

Not as dramatic as I’m being erased from existence because I interacted with my parents from the past.  No…something much more maddening.

When Jo was working for the BMV (State of Indiana) we had insurance through them. We paid for it, mind you, but we had it. When she retired in June of  2014, we had to get our own. We did. They soaked us in a big way at tax time. Affordable? We continued the same coverage and “enjoyed” a relatively uneventful 2015. Jo turns 65 this month and is now enrolled in Medicare and so I had to get my own insurance.  I enrolled on December 3rd and paid my premium which covers until January 31. Obviously, my next premium would be due before that. No problem…except I don’t exist. I’m not in their system. I found that out today when I went to get a scrip which was declined because coverage ended December 31 (old policy). But they have no record of me. No Subscriber ID.  No SS#. No nothing.

I’m so hopping mad right now (and I seldom get this way except for business/people incompetence) Jo is contacting them for me to see why.

There has got to be a lesson here besides frustration for incompetence.  There is. How many times (in my case) do people visit the church on a given Sunday and leave feeling nonexistent? Like they didn’t matter? Like nobody cared? My reaction to this whole mess is considered “justified” (at least in my own mind). Perhaps a person who visits and leaves feeling invisible is “justified” in their mind as well.

And to be honest…they have a better case to make than I do.

 

17 Comments so far ↓

  1. jeff says:

    I think you are having a little trouble dealing with the realities of life. We all have those troubles. Getting someone else to cover problems….heath or otherwise is always a problem. I hope it works out.

    • jeff says:

      Maybe you can pray it away.

      • cycleguy says:

        First, it worked out and even though I was non-existent they finally found me after some investigation. I have no problems dealing with the realities of life. I’ll reserve further comment. And FYI: I did pray. 🙂

        • jeff says:

          I was probably a little snarky on my off the cuff remarks. Forgive me. After reading the responses I figured out I missed the message. I rarely miss the opportunity of making someone realize I am interested in them. Because I am. It is my nature to want to know who you are, what you do and what music do you like and on and on. I don’t understand why everyone isn’t that curious about others. I don’t really know what people in churches do. Maybe they ignore others. They shouldn’t and if that’s the point then I AGREE

          • cycleguy says:

            Thanks for the apology Jeff. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I tend to be a person who doesn’t know a stranger so talking to people is pretty normal for me. You are right about church people not ignoring others. It shouldn’t happen…but does. Not always on purpose but due to being an introvert it is hard.

  2. I see in your comment above, Bill, that they finally did find you, and that’s good. But what a headache and oh, so unaffordable, is the new healthcare!
    I will be more mindful than ever in church to look for the new faces in the congregation and not let them slip away feeling “invisible.”
    Blessings!

  3. floyd says:

    It’s a wise person that looks to put themselves in the shoes of others. Thanks for the reminder, Bill.

  4. Lisa notes says:

    Ouch. The moral of your lesson here hits home with me too. How many people walk away from being around me and feel like I didn’t really see or hear them? I know I’ve felt that way myself at times, and while *sometimes* being invisible feels good, most of the time it doesn’t. And especially not when you need to be in the system! Glad they realized that you were real after all. 🙂

  5. Great message today, Bill. I’ve had seasons in my life where I’ve felt invisible. It’s a difficult place to be and I’ve learned that gender, age, cultural diversity can dictate how to approach someone without putting them off. The important thing is to do something – we all want to be known and accepted.

    As I type this, I can also think of a few times when I wish I’d been invisible.

  6. Kari Scare says:

    As an introvert, I often feel overlooked. Largely my own doing since I’ve got plenty going on in my head to keep me occupied and distracted. As for church visitors, we have several terrific ladies who are great at making sure everyone gets noticed. I try to use some of my social energy reaching out to others, but it doesn’t come naturally. Glad you were “found” btw.

    • cycleguy says:

      I’m an extrovert Kari so I tend to just “be out there.” Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to “hide” and let someone else use their social energy. Alas, I probably never will find out. 🙂

  7. cycleguy says:

    From Dave Beckwith: That’s why we don’t go to the insurance companies to learn about our Savior Jesus Christ. We go to OVCF where the message that matters is delivered brilliantly!