Labor Day: It Beats the Alternative

Founded in 1882 (or 1884) by machinist Matthew Maguire (or by carpenter Peter McGuire), Labor Day in the United States - ratified as a federal holiday in 1894 (maybe; and maybe again in 1898) and by all 50 states as a state holiday - is celebrated on the first Monday of September each year.

In the words of McGuire (no one can remember what Mcguire said), Labor Day should be a "worker's holiday" to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold." (His reference to "rude nature" does take a little luster off the honor.)

By a resolution of the American Federation of Labor Convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement (Source: Department of Labor website.) But that seemed like too much work and conflicted with church services so it never quite caught on. Over time, another hallmark of the holiday, highly charge political speeches on the evils of the Bourgeoisie's exploitation of the Proletariat, faded away also. We can thank long-winded politicians, the NFL, and the defeat of Communism for that.

Ever since Adam's Curse in the garden (Genesis 3:17-19), though, there has been a definite negative connotation associated with work.

Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.

Karl Marx, writing from his comfortable upper middle class lifestyle in London, England, couldn't help but express outrage over the horrific conditions for much of the worldwide working class, though his assertion that industrialization separated 'man' from the fruit of his labors failed to note that the life expectancy of farmers wasn't very long either.

A negativity toward work, even by those who ply their trade in safe, comfortable, life enhancing environments with free coffee and real half and half, persists. For example, if someone works long hours today and shows a fondness for work, he or she is labelled a 'workaholic' - someone with an obvious and dangerous psychological deficiency. One of the cool fantasies of the modern American worker is to quit a job that doesn't meet his or her need for self-actualization.

I have no desire to argue against the theology of the Curse. But I would posit that there is something a lot worse than work. No work. Just ask yourself this question, who looks happier and lives better, the one who is out of work or the one who is gainfully employed?

I like what friend and author, Richard Exley, presented in The Rhythm of Life. The best life, the fulfilled life is one that has the proper balance of work, rest, play, and worship. In a culture obsessed with play - and certainly not going overboard in the area of worship - what a great reminder of, what a great paradigm for ordering your life in a way that opens you up to experience and express what matters most.

Wow. I feel like I have a better attitude toward hard work already. I plan to remember that tomorrow when I head back to the 'salt mines'!