FOMO.

The fear of missing out.

Though coined in the early 2000’s, the term did not rise in popularity until the last several years. But it’s emotional impact fills our lives, whether or not we know its name. It’s why we feel restless on a Friday night if we find ourselves alone. It’s why we’re fascinated with the lives of others on social media. It’s why we have a mini crisis when our phone dies half way through the day and our charger is far away. We don’t want to miss anything. Living in an intricately connected world teaches us to depend on the presence and activities of others.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for social media and fellowship. But if we aren’t careful, the never-ending flow of media posts and peer pressure undermines our confidence in being alone.

We live in a generation that fears the silence. The fear creates an epidemic of loneliness. We feel lonely or left out if we see our friends going to a movie, even if we chose to stay back. We’ll push back our mountain of work just to a part of the action. Being alone equates lonely.

I know, some of you crave that time alone; I hear you. I feel that too. And still, sometimes we find ourselves apologizing and labeling ourselves ‘anti-social’ as a joke when talking with others. I’ve hidden behind the words “I’m tired” as an excuse to curl up in my dorm to just enjoy the quiet. But we shouldn’t feel the need to make excuses.

We have a God-given need for community. It’s life giving. That much is truth. But God also beckons us to leave behind the business and noise of society. In Mark 6:31 he spoke to his disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”

No apologies. No excuses. Just an invitation to rest.

It’s as simple as that.

We have to gather our courage to set aside our devices and step away from the action. We don’t want to miss out. Why? Perhaps it’s deeper than a fear of missing out. It’s a fear of being forgotten. A fear of not belonging. It takes courage and confidence to remain hidden for a day.

And when we do, we must do it with purpose. Jesus didn’t invite his disciples into desolate places without reason. He called them out because it is in the empty places that we meet with God. There we learn who he is and who we are in him. He restores our souls. He fills us up so when we emerge back into the world, we are brimming with love to pour out on others. If we pour ourselves out and never spend time alone with God, we’ll run dry. Without quiet moments in desolate places we ourselves become desolate.

Here’s a catch though: we live on a small campus and it’s a struggle to find those places where we are truly alone. We don’t stumble on them by chance. But Jesus’s invitation is just as real and true for us as it was when he spoke to his disciples. So if you have to, create a place.

Go hiking in the woods.

Occupy a bench on the distant side of the pond.

Stay in your room one Friday evening.

We don’t always have the energy to leave campus when we need to get away by ourselves, so create a space right here where you can be alone.

And while you’re there, don’t watch Netflix. Don’t just sleep. Find activities that renew your mind. Perhaps the very first thing to do when you get there is write up a list of restful activities that release the stress and invite Jesus in. Confidently unplug and relish the silence. Do not be afraid to miss the action. It is far worse to miss the restoration of the quiet places.