Sloth (acedia)

Sloth was originally related to sadness or despair — a sort of spiritual apathy. However in more recent definitions it has been transformed into something that has come to represent laziness: an unwillingness to perform actions that one could normally complete. Or indifference: an unwillingness to care.

From an early perspective, the Commandments state:

• Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
• Honor your father and mother

If sloth is the vice, then diligence is the virtue.

Diligence is an attentive care or persistent application to an undertaking. It’s the steady effort to continue on as normal and not to become lax with all you could accomplish.

This means, in an examination of sloth originally, one should not be seduced by this vice and fall short of completing God’s wishes. To be slothful was to neglect your duties to the lord, and as far as the commandments went: your mother and father as well.

Taking away the guilt aspect of not fulfilling orders from above, we’re left with indifference and inaction. And there’s nothing wrong with either.

Everyone grows tired; everyone needs rest. Whether it’s a physical indifference or a mental one, if someone doesn’t stop and recharge they will eventually burn out. You only have so much to give. I think pausing for a moment, however long that moment may be, is the only way to guarantee you can eventually continue to provide physically, mentally or emotionally outside yourself.

Rest if you need it; rest if you don’t. Don’t ever forget to care about yourself first and foremost. If you don’t, there won’t be much of you left to give to others.

Even God took a day off.

Is Sloth your sin?