National JOMO Day - You're Invited!

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Did you see the sunrise this morning?  It was glorious. The sun slowly peeked over the horizon, outlining puffy clouds with radiant light, dispelling darkness.  Black skies turned to blue, a treat in the midst of our Northeast Ohio winter.

When was the last time you looked at the sky? It’s a simple reminder that the world is going on.  The sun rose this morning, and it will set this evening. The moon and stars will report to their posts.  

“The heavens declare the glory of God

The skies proclaim the work of His hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech.

Night after night they display knowledge…

The sun rises at one end of the heavens 

and makes it’s circuit to the other .”

Psalm 19:1,2,6 (NIV)

We’ve lost touch with the heavens.  All of us. Heads down, eyes fixed on small screens. Disaster! Disease! Pandemic! Financial ruin! Social paranoia!  Fear is crippling. And pervasive.   

For thousands of years there has been sickness and health, war and peace, prosperity and poverty, crime and goodwill.  People have gotten sick and died. People have gotten well and lived. In our corner of the world, we were relatively unaware.

Thanks to  the widespread use of the internet, the whole world  is now keeping count of every illness and death. I’m not sure what’s worse; ignorance or information overload.  The flood of news isn’t helping. Anxiety is on the rise.

Take a deep breath and look up. The world probably isn’t going to end today. Turn off the TV, close your laptop, put down the tablet and turn off your phone.  Can’t survive a day without your phone? Delete the apps that are feeding the frenzy. All the socials, the news, whatever else is keeping your head down and your heart racing.

Tomorrow, when you come back, all the craziness will have continued.  And you will have missed it. It’s called JOMO. The Joy Of Missing Out. 

I’d like to suggest we set aside Sunday, March 22nd as National JOMO Day.  You’re invited to join me and any other brave souls who are willing to take one single day to step off the crazy train and live present to their own lives.  

Here’s a few suggestions of what to do on National JOMO day:

  • Take a walk 

  • Read a book

  • Look at the sky

  • Daydream

  • Talk to someone in your family

  • Notice

  • Write a letter

  • Journal

  • Play a game

  • Bake something

  • Dance 

  • Shoot hoops

  • Visit with a neighbor (keep 6 ft apart during periods of social distancing)

  • Call someone you’ve been meaning to talk to

  • Play an instrument

  • Create beauty

  • Take a nap

  • Pray

  • Upcycle something

  • Hike

  • Draw or paint. 

  • Stretch your arms high and enjoy being alive

  • (Author’s edit 4/10/2020: Please know I’m not making light of a situation that is potentially very serious to you personally. I’m not minimizing the COVID-19 pandemic. I pray daily for those who are ill, for those on the front lines, and for God’s mercy on our world. However, at this point we know what to do. We don’t need to immerse ourselves in the news. Wash your hands, keep your distance, cover your mouth, disinfect, pray. Now give your mind a break. I promise, this will help your mental and physical health!)

Who’s in?