The Turgid Miasma of Existence - Part I

Recently a colleague and I were lamenting what we perceived to be some of the mindless routines of our vocation. This particular colleague is a great wordsmith and referred to our condition as “The turgid miasma of existence.” What I discovered upon further research is that this phrase was actually the title of an album released in the mid-1980s by an Australian rock band called Celibate Rifles. Never heard of them? Neither had I. With all due respect to Celibate Rifles, my interest is not in their album. What I am interested in, however, is that many people really do appear to view life in this way.

Turgid refers to something that is dull, boring, tedious, or monotonous. Miasma refers to something which clouds, obscures; a haze, a fog. My friend paraphrased “the turgid miasma of existence” as, “The unchanging cloudiness of every day life hanging over us.” Do you know anyone who feels like that? Did you happen to see that person in the mirror this morning?

To many people, it seems, life is more about existing than living; more about surviving than thriving. Robotically, we progress through the checklists of the day as if in a fog that obscures the things which are most important.

• We are productive but not passionate.

• We are fruitful but not focused.

• We are efficient but not effectual.

• We are creative but not content.

• We are hurried but not hopeful.

• We are worried but not wise.

• We are successful but not secure.

• We are good but not great.

• We accomplish but don’t apprehend.

• We are active but not alive.

• Our days are filled but not full.

We do our jobs. We meet our deadlines. We get through the day. Still, something is missing. Our busyness doesn’t seem to make us better. Our actions never seem to bring us closer to attaining the things we most need. Then we get up tomorrow and do it all over again. The turgid miasma of existence.

Is this the kind of approach to living that God intends for those who are His by grace and through faith in Jesus? I would suggest that the answer to that question is a resounding, “No.” Though scores of passages from the Bible could be brought to bear upon this question, in Part II, I will reference but a few.