“Idleness is the burial of a living person.” When I read that last week, I immediately thought back to a statement I use a lot, which is, “Most people die young, that just don’t get buried until they are 85 or 90 years old.” When a person, like an automobile, is idle, it’s the same as being inactive.
The dictionary uses stronger language, such as, no value, worthless, useless, lazy and inactive. Idleness, in my opinion, is partly the blame for the problems in our once great country. Some of our young people are so busy doing nothing that getting involved in something interrupts their comfort zone of being idle.  
Sometimes when I call my grandchildren, I ask, “What’s up? What are you doing?”  “Nothing,” is their reply most of the time. My comeback is that the problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you’re finished. Is it any wonder that many of our young people are overweight, not motivated, with no vision for the future?  
Being inactive robs a person of using their God-given talents to make the world a better place for themselves and others in their community. I’ll never forget hearing a sermon about “Hidden Treasures.” The speaker asked the question, “Where do you think are the greatest treasures in America?” Without hesitating, he said, “They are buried in the graveyards in every community of this country.” He continued, “Many people have taken to their graves the unused gifts that God gave them to bless others.”
How many books could have been written, people encouraged, inventions created, if only people would have realized that God had a purpose for each of their lives?
The Bible says we all will be responsible for what God has revealed to us and also accountable for the talents He’s given us.
My observation has been that some people who have the most to offer refuse to shift their position in life from idleness to productive activity.  
I’ll never forget what Fr. Tom Cronen, a Catholic priest, told me 38 years ago when my life was idle for a couple of years. “Harold,” he said, “God has a plan just for you and there isn’t a substitute. If you don’t execute His plan, one day you’ll have to answer to Him.”  
Keep in mind that idleness is the Devil’s workshop.
If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or email hkeller@comcast.net.