Happy Labor Day

It's nice to have a day off in a usual week of work, isn't it?

Many of us are able to stay at home today, or heading home from a long weekend so we can report to our vocation tomorrow.

Just to backtrack a little here, the tradition began in 1882 when the Central Labor Union wanted to create a holiday for workers. 

It's also good to note that working conditions then for the vast majority of laborers and workers was not good.  Days off were infrequent.  Let's say the concept of "comp time" had not been invented yet, either.

Labor Day is now what we think of as the end of a three month summer season.  It means getting back to business.  In many places, including public schools and colleges in Wisconsin, Labor Day means it's time to go back to school.  Here, students return to their classrooms tomorrow.

Yet, it's a good time to celebrate labor.  Work.  A job.  It's a good thing.  Work is a blessing.

Last week, I listened to Mike & Mike on their ESPN morning radio program as Greenie explained that he thought the expression of being on the roster of an NFL team being a privilege, not a right was incorrect.  If a player has the talent, they then deserved the job.

To a point, I understand where he's coming from.  However, in the larger sense, I believe work is a gift.

We may prepare ourselves for our job.  We may have taken all the classes and earned all the certifications, but the opportunity to practice our craft is given by the person who offers a position.

Whether it's day labor; lawyer; radio host; teacher; administrative assistant; or development director - these jobs are opportunities for us to provide for our family.  It's also an opportunity to serve someone else.

Whatever the job we have, it's a link in the chain that provides for humanity and (hopefully) the common good.

To extend this a step further, Christians see our opportunity to work as a way to serve God.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters...  Colossians 3:23

By performing to the best of our ability with integrity and compassion - we can do that no matter the title on the door or above our shirt pocket.

So, I hope today you have an opportunity to think and give thanks for the job (even if it sometimes has more down days than up days) where you find yourself.

I can't end today's blog without thinking about my first grade teacher, Mrs. Nienow.  (It occurs to me this next item is really the only concrete memory of her, so it made an impact.)

One morning, I suspect some of the boys in class were acting up a bit or failing to pay attention to her instructions.  Like all kids, we looked forward to lunch when we could open our lunch boxes (mine had a United Airlines Jet on it) to eat and then spend time on the playground for recess.

To get the attention of our class, she quoted scripture:
(For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that) if any would not work, neither should he eat.  2Thessalonians 3:10

She just used the end of that phrase to capture our attention.  I would say it did the job.

Happy Labor Day.