Today is a holiday in America called Labor Day. Originally meant as a day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of laborers to the country in 1882. A little more than 10 years later the idea of setting aside the first Monday in September made it into Federal law.
For more than 50 years, maybe 70, unofficially, Labor Day really marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Traditionally school started the day after Labor Day, so summer vacation was over.
Since I’ve written about manufacturing for the past 25 years after working in that industry before that, I’ve been reflecting on work.
Why do we work?
The story of Adam and Eve in the Hebrew scriptures implies that we work because we live separated from God. Had we continued to live with God, food would have been provided. I guess we’d have also had to live in climates where shelter requirements were minimal.
Jesus seemed to accept work as a fact expecting that we all had some sort of work. And he expected us to put in a fair day’s labor for a fair day’s pay.
Perhaps we work to express ourselves. We need to do something creative, whether for someone else for pay in order to eat or for ourselves out of the pure joy of producing something.
We do know that in America, where the standard is two weeks of vacation per year and many don’t even take those, that we have no idea of using leisure time well. So, I hope you all used the day well. Even if it’s not a holiday for you, still, use your day well.
Faith Venture 
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