Lets talk about FOMO. If you don’t know what that means its Fear Of Missing Out. If you’re like me, or any other normal human, that probably resounded somewhere deep in your soul.
Personally, it takes me back to the Jr. High and High School days when I would be hanging out with a group of friends and your parents would tell you to come home and you would be the FIRST one to leave. Literally nothing worse to a 16 year old. “Oh never mind, you had to be there” was the worst thing for me to hear during the tender years of adolescence.
Im sure we have all been there in the past and more than likely, even recently! Its a part of human nature and our society, that we want to know everything and be a part of the significant moments. Im not talking about being sad about missing a wedding, thats normal. Im talking about the incessant need to be involved for our own personal affirmation. That is not healthy. And that is what I have fallen victim to for so many years of my life. Can I get an AMEN from all of my other people pleasers out there?
Sadly, FOMO still has a little bit of room in my life. One of my biggest fears leaving for this trip was that I was going to miss out on important events, or worse yet, not be missed by anyone at all. (Cue the people pleasing tendencies) What if, in my absence, people don’t caring, aren’t interested any longer, and stop missing me.
Now, lets talk about abandonment. One of the major aspects of the World Race is that of abandonment; the realization that you are leaving your friends, family, normal way of life, and home country to do Kingdom work.
Kingdom work. I am traveling the world to tell others about the love of J3sus, not so that everyone back home can say “wow look at that godly amazing person giving up so much”. Because in that mindset, Im not giving anything up at all. I am clinging desperately to my sinful need to be wanted, needed, and affirmed.
What does it matter if I leave the world behind just to drag my insecurities and fears behind me? If I really chose the World Race to spread the wonderful, saving grace of my beautiful Sav1or, then I shouldn’t give a second thought to what others think of me.
I shouldn’t be actively looking for someone to affirm what I’m doing, I should be actively looking for more ways to serve others around me.
I shouldn’t be scrolling through pictures to find the perfect Instagram picture, I should be spending my time sharing the real stories and triumphs that can only happen through J3sus.
I shouldn’t be asking friends back home whats going on in the social circles before I ask them how I can be praying for them and their situations.
I shouldn’t be worrying about finances or fundraising, but praising my flawless maker who has provided for me over and over, and will provide again.
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. ” -Henry David Thoreau
How much of my life have I spent thinking about things that don’t matter? About the thoughts of others, their opinions towards me, and earning love and adoration. When I think about it, the price of worrying, of FOMO, of fear of abandonment is much too high. And I’m done paying that price.
I know that I’m loved. I know that I’m adored. I know that I’m treasured. I know that I’m enough. Because I have a wonderful, merciful Sav1or that tells me so. I can live in full confidence with the knowledge that if I’m living for Him, my life is full of purpose.
“I have one desire now-to live a life of reckless abandon for the L0rd, putting all of my energy and strength into it. -Elisabeth Elliot
Because when its all said and done, nothing else matters.
