Our fundamental absurdity is disclosed when the mad rush
called “life” stops, when our eyes pierce thru the fog of busyness,
and our spirits rebel against the cardboard explanations of the world.
How chancy, contingent, accidental, and inconsequential we are!
We find ourselves plopped into an ordered but meaningless universe
—as if we woke up after the instructions for the game of life
had already been given—and now we don't know how to play!
The little humorous absurdities of life have grown fat
by eating up the certainties of the past,
leaving us in the midst of limitless, overwhelming absurdity.

     Felt another way, our Existential Predicament is terrifying insecurity
—complete shakiness and lack of stability in everything.
We try to protect and shield ourselves thru elaborate security operations:
jobs, insurance, savings; marriage, family, friends.
But if our uneasiness is existential, these security games are never sufficient
—which may lead us to ever more desperate scrambling for invulnerability.

     Or the little disappointments of life, like jagged rocks in the river,
may tear our rubber rafts of illusion, sinking us into bottomless despair.

     However, such experiences of existential absurdity, insecurity, and despair
can also open us to a new sensitivity and depth within ourselves.
Initially what seems to be unredeemable suffering
can be turned toward positive purpose in Authentic Existence
—and beyond that—used as an opening to Existential Freedom:

     Where once we were almost pulled to pieces by absurdity,
we now find ourselves filled with inward peace, harmony, and coherence.
Even tho the world and our ordinary lives remain as absurd as ever,
inwardly we have become fulfilled, satisfied, complete.

     Thru fumbling, somewhat random efforts,
we have finally hit upon the correct posture-of-being
that allows us to become ultimately safe and secure.
This restful strength does not come from efforts to achieve security
but only when we completely abandon our defensive techniques.

     Put another way, we become Existentially Free
by giving up our attempts to cure our Existential Malaise,
by allowing ourselves to sink into despair,
hoping beyond reason that we will sink thru the bottom of despair
into inexplicable hope, joy, peace, and fulfillment.

     We cannot explain this deep change.  We only know that once we were
distorted by absurdity, shaken by insecurity, and drowning in despair.
But now we are resting harmoniously in peace and inner coherence,
relying confidently on our new-found strength, stability, and security,
and floating serenely on a surprising hope and joy.

68        OUR EXISTENTIAL PREDICAMENT: LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, & DEATH