FOMO?

         When I see some of the activities my friends (or acquaintances) are involved in, especially those concerning social issues, I am often confronted with a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out). I am unsure whether this is a genuine sense of wanting to be involved in social work or just that doing these kinds of activities can be considered glamorous. I know my heart and I do not think selfishly desiring to serve others is beyond its depravity.

          For instance, the other big church (in terms of size and activities) in Durham is conducting a ‘June Project’ where students who have finished their exams are engaged in lots of communal work; whereas in the church I am attending, we only have a ‘Bible Week’ organised where we look at how the Bible fits together. Although I acknowledge that the choice between doing social work and studying the Bible is a false dichotomy, I cannot help but feel that by not engaging in active work that makes a visible difference, I might not be sufficiently engaging with the world.

          Sometimes I wonder if I have become too obsessed with studying the Bible and getting the ‘right’ interpretation that I unconsciously distance myself from the world. This is something I urgently need to think about.

          This article (http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/four-ways-to-fight-the-fear-of-missing-out) has been somewhat helpful although it does not address my particular fear, but it is encouraging to be reminded that satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment should not come from personal achievement in whatever form.