Just in the last 18 months, or so, some more new expressions have found their way into our everyday language, such as, “You’re on mute!”. We all know what that one means! But there are a few others appearing as well, like “FOMO”, which is, technically, an acronym – but has become an actual word. As a word, it was added to the Oxford Dictionary way back in 2013, but re-emerged in Australia in the real estate industry last year when it was a sellers’ market, and many first home buyers were getting pipped at the post at auctions. Consequentially, young home buyers began to purchase almost anything they could get at exorbitant prices – even if they didn’t really like the house, itself. The logic was, “we’ve just got to get into the market somehow before it gets beyond us again.”
And so, “FOMO” - “Fear Of Missing Out”.
FOMO is a state of mental or emotional strain caused by the fear of missing out. One psychologist recently referred to it as an omnipresent anxiety brought on by our cognitive ability to recognise opportunities available to us, but which could be lost if we don’t act. It’s a form of social anxiety - a compulsive concern that one might miss an opportunity or satisfying event. Although, it may not actually be a satisfying event, in the end. But, if I don’t act now – I’ll miss out. FOMO can lead to all sorts of compulsive decisions.
There’s a few of these new acronym-words circulating lately. “MOMO” is another one. It means the “Mystery Of Missing Out” and that’s a bit more intense than FOMO. Whereas FOMO is the constant, nagging knowledge that you're going to miss out on an event or opportunity unless you act immediately and, perhaps, compulsively - because you can see it happening on social media, via your friends, or something. MOMO is born more out of a sense of grief and paranoia because you have missed out when you could have done something, but didn’t. Ever heard the expression, “Well, I don’t want to die wondering”? Well, MOMO is the living experience of wondering and not having given it a shot; you’ve missed it and the opportunity probably won’t return. (I realise now that I experienced MOMO quite a lot when I was a kid … but that’s another story). Then there’s “YOLO” – “You Only Live Once”; “PALIG” – a “Person Against Life In General”; and the list goes on.
But a new acronym-word has appeared in the last few weeks – “FOGO”. And that is the “Fear Of Going Out”. Actually, Fogo, is an old English noun which means “a strong and unpleasant smell; a stink”. (Think rotten egg gas). It emerged as a word late in the 18th century and is, mostly, forgotten these days. But I digress.
Last year, in social media circles, FOGO – the Fear Of Going Out – was used by millennials as a light-hearted piece of slang to tease friends about their hesitancy to join in some social activity, especially night-clubbing. But over the course of 2021 FOGO has come to mean something far more disturbing. The damaging effect of the COVID lockdowns and the ever-present threat of catching this wretched virus has caused a great deal of fear for many people – they fear going out into public places, or mixing with others, or attending events where there are crowds of people. This fear is real and, yes probably, there is a sliding scale from apprehension to extreme anxiety. It is no joke. The COVID crisis has produced an environment of frustration, anger and fear, and some people are – quite validly – more affected than others, particularly those whose health is compromised or fragile, or those who hold genuine fears about the current vaccine technologies. And, it is safer, easier, and way less angst-ridden to just stay at home. We’ve all been affected in some way. FOGO, for others, may have been triggered by just holding a particular view of things; or by the imagined (or real) reactions of those they guess they may have inconvenienced because of a decision they have made.
For these folk, whether vaccinated or not, it is no small thing for them to re-emerge from lockdown and make their way back into the old routines, to move amongst their people networks again, and even come back to Sunday worship in the knowledge that the COVID virus is still out there … It hasn’t been eradicated, not yet anyway.
FOGO is not a mere social phenomenon that can be laughed off. It’s a serious new reality for many for whom the easiest, safest thing to do would be to stay at home. And we all – especially the people of God – need to graciously respect that, and be so sensitive and gentle with each other as we’re all emerging into a different world over which still hangs the spectre of another COVID outbreak. We need to be very respectful, gracious and patiently understanding with each other as we move forward together through the various challenges and find our new groove. We need to help each other make new adjustments.
And so, as we begin to return to in-person worship in this temporary, in-between space where government mandates have made it extremely difficult for worshippers, we need to trust the leading of God’s Spirit to guide us through; and lovingly support and encourage the shepherds charged with organising worship ongoing.
Ephesians 4:29-32
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Let’s remember who were are … and just whose we are … and why that is so.
Welcome back to worship … I have missed you all so much!
Romans 15:7
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
We’ll need to hold of on the “holy kiss” thing for a little while longer!
You are loved.
Ps. Milton