LABOR DAY - 'a 3 day weekend' - and why

To understand fully the origins and motives of Labor Day in the US one should travel back to the mid to late 1800s, when industrialized nations such as we were experiencing a zenith in prosperity - if but only for a few. Most now agree that this 'prosperity' was realized on the backs of an impoverished force of American labor-working long hours, 6 days a week, and under less than safe or commodious conditions. So that in 1882, when American labor leader Peter McGuire had witnessed a festival in Toronto celebrating Canada's Trade Union Act, and returned to New York to organize our first Labor Day Parade on September 5th of the same year, it was an immediate and sustainable hit - followed by more.

In 1894, facing the aftermath of a number of deaths at the hands of US military and marshals during the Pullman Strikes, President Grover Cleveland made reconciliation with labor a priority, and aggressively promoted a bill through congress to recognize the date as a national holiday. And though born originally from certain controversy and strife, the next 100 years have seen our American Labor Day become one of recognizing - not just those among us we call 'labor' - but the sheer dignity of all such laborem (its Latin root) under the sun - because from it is fueled the mutual good of we who accomplish, enjoy, and by it receive our bounty. Yes, if ever there were a nation primed to celebrate the success of labor, it was, and is - US (pun intended).

Now because I'm a pastor, serving a community knowing as much success and excess as any, I find myself this weekend wondering at this. I wonder how, or if, we even value labor today. Do we do fully understand this to be a marvelous device given by the mind of God from which He assigns us dignity and worth? To work with our hands - be that on computer, with a scalpel, or under a car - to create, to add to the common good and be fairly and reasonably recompensed for such is one of the supreme joys of life. For was it not the 'preacher' who learned and uttered- "it is good for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all of his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days God has given him - for this is lot. (Eccl. 5:18) Yes, pity the soul who does not know this, either by choice or upbringing - and pity the time if such is ever lost altogether. For in that time we will really have lost our way. In that time, if work becomes our drudge, will it be because we are not paid well? Or, will it be be because we've failed to learn the simplest of value from that which we've been made best to posses - our labor?

So on Tuesday next - when we each go back to 'work' to punch our time-clock, construct an email, or complete a task - remember the celebration of all those who've gone before. Those who, like most of us, did not make it onto 'American Idol' or into the grand arena of our present day temple - 'Sport', but who marched in a parade of 1882, and have as such reminded us of a kind of soul-dignity from which life on earth is made. Think of those persons, and then... think, again, of yourself, and be glad.

Happy 'Labor Day' all

Pastor Sam