Long before Disney and Pixar created “A Bug’s Life,” the Hebrew wisdom writers saw how
diligently ants work. In this bit of wisdom, they encouraged all of us to learn from the ants.
Our driven culture often works hard, but sometimes in a spirit that sees retirement and days
off as the only truly good times. Perhaps we, too, can learn from the ants.

• William Willimon notes that “surely sloth is one sin of which we pragmatic, hard-working, high-achieving, Mother-I’d-rather-do-it-myself Americans are not guilty.” What’s your attitude toward the work you do, in paid and/or unpaid settings? Do you tend to love it too much, too little, or some of both?
• 4th-century monks known as “the Desert fathers” led out in naming sloth as a sin. They compared the lethargy that comes at midday in a hot climate to the state of mind and heart they called “sloth.” What are some ways you’ve seen people “drowse” their way through life? How do attentiveness and energy enrich life?