Earlier this week, Cameron Douglas, 31 year-old son of Academy Award winning actor Michael Douglas, was sentenced to a 5-year prison term on charges of dealing large quantities of drugs (read story). Offering what he said “may well be his last chance to make it,” the U.S. District Judge in the case handed Cameron what is considered to be a lenient sentence. In his appeal to the court, Cameron, an abuser of drugs since he was 13, remarked, ”I squandered a lot of [opportunities for recovery]. If I should be so fortunate as to have another chance, I will never squander that opportunity.”

As I read this tragic story, I couldn’t help but think about how much talent went unnurtured in his escape to drugs. Addictions of any kind rob the addicted of so much potential. Ever so quietly, so also does living unintentionally. Without worthy goals and the self-discipline to work toward them, I will squander the opportunities I have to nurture my talents. Every day I have a choice to make between merely desiring a change and working toward it. The difference is self-discipline. “The problem with self-discipline,” as my friend and co-teacher, Roger Thompson, points out, “is that not doing it is instantly rewarded.” But like drug use, it’s a hollow reward.

Your thoughts? Are there some time-wasting habits that are squandering your opportunities?

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The Academy Awards are arguably one of the most celebrated talent events of the year. Each year, the red carpet is rolled out to receive motion picture celebrities donning the latest fashions, while media pundits whip up frenzied speculations on the night’s winners of the most coveted award, the Oscar. Yet, for all the accolades and creative talent on display, none can ultimately take credit for the talent they possess. In the witty words of Rush Limbaugh, we all have “talent on loan from God.” Jesus said the same thing in the form of a parable about a King that gave a mina (about $16) to each of ten servants with instructions to “put the money to work until I come back” (Luke 19:12-13). While the talents we possess may or may not draw applause from others, we serve an eternal Investor who measures our success not by what we were given but by what we’ve done with His gift.

Your thoughts? How might you better invest the talents He’s given you to help others?

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