128th Edition
Existential
It wasn’t too long ago that when I heard someone use the term “existential” it had no effect on me at all. I’m sure it was because I didn’t know what the word meant. Unfortunately, today I do, and how I long for days gone by…
Andrew Hartz, a clinical psychologist and the founder of the Open Therapy Institute, wrote an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal – “Why is Everything an Existential Crisis?” Let’s dig into that, shall we? His basic premise is that “so-called existential risks, seem to be everywhere….” And that these fears are “expressing deeper concerns about morality and meaning….” It’s a very thought-provoking article, but he completely whiffs on the ending. Let me try to explain.
In his final paragraph, Hartz concludes his essay by stating the following: “Meaning and purpose have to be found on one’s own, and people must develop ways to manage the uncertainties and risks of life. This can be challenging, but it’s the only path toward fulfillment, wisdom, and freedom – to say nothing of mental health.” With all due respect to Mr. Hartz, we weren’t created to find meaning and purpose on our own. It is only attainable through a personal and intimate relationship with our Creator. God did not create us to operate independently of Him. Sure, we can find temporary happiness without a relationship with our creator, but it is more often than not fleeting, falling short of lasting joy.
A few key thoughts that need to be part of this discussion. First, a person can have a personal relationship with God without being religious, without going to church, without passing any dogmatic checklist. In other words, our purpose and meaning in life is simply to know God intimately and love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. Through this relationship God gives us the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. With this spiritual armor we can then, and only then, find the path toward fulfillment, wisdom, and freedom, as Hartz wrote.
Today’s obsession with existential threats flows from our rejection of God. This is the statement that Hartz either doesn’t believe or wasn’t courageous enough to state. But individually and collectively, we aren’t going to make progress toward peace, reconciliation, and true community until we face this undeniable truth.
We have to humble ourselves before our Creator and realize that we can’t attain lasting personal fulfillment, nor true community, without His wisdom, love, and grace. If that seems daunting, don’t worry, it’s really not.
Stubbornly we try everything else. We serve false gods; we even make ourselves into god of our own life. Despite being the most medicated generation in our nation’s history, we face a myriad of mental health and social ills, from anxiety and depression to polarization and demonization. Worst of all, apathy is all too common. All of this is a result of our rejection of our one true God.
Second, having this essential relationship with God does not make an individual perfect, nor does it instantly solve every problem a person might face. We still have free will. Other people have free will, too. And shit happens, unfortunately. God is not a micro-manager. He allows all kinds of eventualities. He doesn’t eliminate all suffering, allows evil to exist, and doesn’t intervene every time we ask Him to. But even in our worst of times, if we lean into Him, He responds. He comforts, loves, forgives, and grants peace and understanding beyond anything we can attain on our own. God, and only God, can give us a reordered heart.
Third, there are good people who are atheists. Why? I have no idea. I suspect God is still working within them even if they aren’t aware of it. But over centuries of history there have been significantly more atheists who came to know God than people who knew God who decided to become an atheist. God works His sovereign will in His good time.
Fourth, a personal relationship with God is transformational. It is not an intellectual exercise. It is a heartfelt realization, a surrender of personal will and control. Like any intimate relationship, it is a process, a journey with joy and sorrow, with progress and setbacks, with peace and frustration, and every other emotion humanly possible. There is always mystery and perhaps above all, there is always hope. It’s all quite extraordinary, really.
C.S. Lewis stated that “the people who accomplish the most in this life, are those that concentrate the most on the next life.” I wish Mr. Hartz would have included that in his concluding paragraph.
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization