But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 

John 20:24

I pretend like it doesn’t bother me, but it does.

• When friends get together but I have to work.
• When everybody is talking about Taylor Swift and I don’t know a single song.
• When I haven’t been able to check Facebook in three hours.
• When everybody else is in on the joke, and I have no clue.

I have FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out. I never thought it would happen to me, but sometimes it’s as if everybody else is experiencing rapture, and I’m feeling Left Behind.

I have FOMO about all kinds of things. Maybe the worst is when it happens spiritually. Sometimes I’ll see people having big life revelations, but I’m over here just treading water. I’ll see people deep in worship, and I’m wondering what I’m going to have for lunch. Everybody else seems to “get it”, and I’m getting nowhere.

Ever feel that way? I wonder if that’s how Thomas felt the day after the resurrection. Jesus had appeared to the rest of the disciples and offered a blessing to them. Where was Thomas while all this was happening? I don’t know. Grocery shopping? Doing his taxes? Lamenting the good ole days?

I don’t know why he wasn’t there with his friends, but I can imagine his chagrin at hearing their jubilation. He was still stuck in his post crucifixion doubt. That next week would have been hard for “doubting Thomas”. The FOMO must have been real.

I don’t know about Tom, but I forget that the only thing holding me back from a vibrant, active faith life…is Fear. Fear is the antithesis of faith. Thomas needed to have his own experience of the risen Christ to move beyond his fear, and guess what? He had it! That contact and confirmation brought him into a new paradigm. The same can be true for you and me. Fear can keep us from seeing clearly, but Christ is eager for us to reach out and touch him.

Maybe the key to counteracting FOMO is JOJI: The Joy of Joining In. Maybe we should try something new. Maybe that’s joining a new Sunday school class or learning a couple Taylor songs. Maybe it’s sharing more deeply with a friend, or seeing what all the fuss is, about…anything! Open yourself up to where God is RIGHT NOW, and God will bring the Joy!

I’m learning that when I have FOMO, that’s when I can let Christ make a space for me. I don’t want to let another Era go by without me joining in…

So I’d better make a change,

and I’d better make it Swift.

Have a great week,

Mitch