Vanity is all-pervasive for sleeping people. Everything is done for the sake of looking good. The word vanity is not often used these days, but it is such a powerful force.

Vanity has long played a part in my life. But now I know it consciously. It never changes because it is mechanical and nothing mechanical can change. That is a very important sentence.

Vanity is denied by sleeping people. “Who, vain? Not me!” Yes, it is always me.

Society turns on vanity. Think how big the beauty industry is or how concerned we are about our skin and hair.

It also turns on social vanity. “I am quite a good party-giver, if I am honest. No, you are not honest.

No one wants to be vulnerable and that is where vanity comes in.

We are asleep to our own vanity but awake to others.

Jesus often pointed this out.

“Wake, thou that sleepest.”

As I age, my vanity centers around my aging body.

It is afraid there will come a day when there is absolutely nothing to be vain about.

That day is today.

Vicki Woodyard