Idleness can bring darkness
Are you idle?
Hopefully not, unless you can't help it. For God made us to "die with our boots on," to serve Him in whatever way we can serve Him even if simply through prayer for others until the very end.
The Lord is perfect and does not waste a minute. Neither should we.
Especially in later years, too many find themselves with "nothing" to do. But it's up to us to find things to do, to bear fruit of some sort as long as we can. The more fruit we bear, the healthier are our bodies, emotions, and spirits. Idleness causes us to stagnate and the spirit to disassemble or even decay.
If you find yourself with nothing to do you need to find yourself.
Idleness is also a clarion call to the enemy, who roosts upon those who are no longer in motion, are sitting targets, who become self-pitying or obsessive because there's nothing else to think about or do. Rust collects when there are no moving parts.
God did not mean for us to stop living, until He takes us from this planet, until the end. He meant for us to end up living. Perhaps you can bring Communion to the infirm? Or work for Meals On Wheels, or spend more time in Adoration for your community and the youth and the world?
We know two elderly people in Silicon Valley who after their retirements collected leftover vegetables and fruits from grocery stores and distributed them to the poor; after that, they spent time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and organized prayer meetings. We note an elderly gentleman in our area who picks up roadside litter, beautifying the land for others.
If you're filling your days in front of the TV, radio, or computer, ask yourself how much of the "important" news is really important and how much of what you are spending time listening to will help your place in the afterlife.
Are you constantly texting, Facebooking, or chatting on the phone, instead of reciting a Scriptural Rosary, reading the Bible, learning to love in all circumstances?
Idleness leads to loose lips and loose lips stain the spirit. In the frustration of boredom, antagonisms and gossip are born.
As the great Thomas a Kempis wrote:
"Avoid public gatherings as much as possible, for the discussion of worldly affairs becomes a great hindrance, even though it be with the best of intentions, for we are quickly corrupted and ensnared by vanity. Often I wish I had remained silent, and had not been among men. But why is it that we are so ready to chatter and gossip with each other, when we so seldom return to silence without some injury to our conscience? The reason why we are so fond of talking with each other is that we think to find consolation in this manner, and to refresh a heart wearied with many cares. And we prefer to speak and think of those things which we like and desire, or of those which we dislike. Alas, however, all this is often to no purpose, for this outward consolation is no small obstacle to inner and Divine consolation."
[resources: A Life of Blessings]
