There's nothing like the winter blues. Cold weather induces feelings of lousiness and encourages hibernation with several blankets, hot cocoa, and pointless reading material. More feelings of lousiness then come with not doing anything. Enter rationalization and such questions as, "But of course, what can be done in lousy weather?" Finally, the conscience catches up and the decision is made to do something of importance, but then a cold is caught too...which induces feelings of lousiness and encourages hibernation with several blankets, cocoa, more pointless reading material and a box of tissues. And what do you know...another cold front arrives.

It was in the midst of this circular reasoning that I stumbled onto this verse in Proverbs 22:29: "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." Because that wasn't enough, I tripped over Psalm 119:37, "Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways."

I jumped off the couch and began hustling around the house, trying to atone for lost time. Life's too short to spend hibernating and talents left unused grow rusty quickly. History testifies constantly to the benefit of hard work--in spite of the winter blues. For instance, accompanying his father to France, John Quincy Adams took advantage of his time on the icy voyage from Boston.

On the journey he began to learn French, and due to his diligence, soon gained enough proficiency to become the youngest American diplomat. John Quincy was eleven years old. Instead of applying himself to shivering in the ship's cabin, utilized his time to achieve excellence. (I can't help but wonder if it was that same diligence and wise planning that landed the young diplomat the presidency years later.) While I am increasingly convinced of the importance of diligence, perhaps there is more to "turning away from vanity" than hard work alone.

A recent news story that will probably remain in the tabloids for some time to come: actor Heath Ledger died. For those who don't know, he was a teen heartthrob and is famous for a particularly immoral film. Out of the 150,000 people who die each day, the death of an actor is no more tragic than the death of any other. Nevertheless, Ledger's premature death at the height of fame and fortune is an example of the vanity King David, and later, King Solomon wrote of centuries ago. A week ago, decisions made by this actor could've turned heads in Hollywood. But where is his influence now? His death serves as a reminder that nothing lasts.

"All is vanity," Solomon said. That includes spending life for wealth and popularity, spending life on the couch, or spending every waking moment hard at work. Whether the act is cooking dinner or preventing a nuclear war---big or small--all is futile.

It's hard to forget that ever-potent quote from Napoleon on his deathbed: "I marvel that where the ambitious dreams of myself and of Alexander and Caesar should have vanished into thin air, a Judean peasant, Jesus, should be able to stretch out His hands across the centuries, and control the destinies of men and nations."

In the end, conquering the world wasn't enough for Napoleon; and I don't think it should be for me either. Yes, life's too short to be spent lazily. Since approximately eight years of my life will be spent on sleep alone, I don't want to lose another minute in lethargy. Yet, diligence for diligence's sake is just expending energy without a higher purpose. Hard work isn't the main goal.

The painter who paints only for the sake of holding a brush soon finds his stamina waning. Only when he sets his mind on the finished portrait does the painter's action make sense. Just the same, working hard for me makes little difference in the scheme of things. I'm transient. But when done for the glory of God, effort makes an eternity of a difference.