LABOR DAY
“He gives
power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and
be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord
shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they
shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”-Is 40:29-31
Psalm 33, Verse 8
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let
all who dwell in the world show him reverence.
Reverence is "a feeling or
attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration". The word
"reverence" in the modern day is often used in relationship with religion.
This is because religion often stimulates the emotion through recognition of God,
the supernatural, and the ineffable. Reverence involves a humbling of the self
in respectful recognition of something perceived to be greater than the self.
Thus religion is commonly a place where reverence is felt. However, similar to awe,
reverence is an emotion in its own right, and can be felt outside of the realm
of religion. Whereas awe may
be characterized as an overwhelming "sensitivity to greatness,"
reverence is seen more as "acknowledging a subjective response to
something excellent in a personal (moral or spiritual) way, but qualitatively
above oneself" Solomon describes
awe as passive, but reverence as active, noting that the feeling of awe (i.e.,
becoming awestruck) implies paralysis, whereas feelings of reverence are
associated more with active engagement and responsibility toward that which one
reveres. Nature, science, literature,
philosophy, great philosophers, leaders, artists, art, music, wisdom, and beauty
may each act as the stimulus and focus of reverence.[1]
Labor Day[2]
Labor Day is a dedicated
to honoring and remembering the achievements of the US worker. It is a national
celebration which recognizes the contributions that American workers have made
to the prosperity of their nation. Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday
in September as a three day weekend.
Labor Day Facts & Quotes
·
The Central Labor Union observed the first Labor
Day holiday in 1882 in New York City.
·
Labor Day marks the end of the summer season,
the beginning of school and the start of football season.
·
According to the rules of fashion, Labor Day
Weekend is the last official time where wearing white is appropriate.
·
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and
importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Martin
Luther King Jr.
·
Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital.
Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had
not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital and deserves much the
higher consideration. - Abraham Lincoln
Labor Day Top Events and Things
to Do
·
Attend a food and fun festival with your family.
Most counties run some type of fair or festival for the long weekend.
·
Take a mini vacation and enjoy the extra day off
with your friends, family or loved ones.
·
Attend a local parade. Many cities and towns
host a labor day parade with lots of fun and treats for the young ones.
·
Go camping. Enjoy the last three day weekend
before the weather gets significantly colder.
·
Go shopping - many stores hold special sales
events the entire weekend.
When workers do not have adequate time to rest, families suffer. Also lost is the necessary time for spiritual growth and building a relationship with God. Pope Francis has said it is "inhuman" that parents must spend so much time working that they cannot play with their children. Surely many wish for more time, but their working conditions do not allow it. As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "Even as God rests in Himself alone and is happy in the enjoyment of Himself, so our own sole happiness lies in the enjoyment of God. Thus, also, He makes us find rest in Himself, both from His works and our own. It is not, then, unreasonable to say that God rested in giving rest to us." A culture that obsesses less over endless activity and consumption may, over time, become a culture that values rest for the sake of God and family. Employers ought to consider the total well-being of their employees and prioritize conditions that help them to thrive as human persons. Wages and working hours should support the fundamental needs of people to form and nurture families. The spiritual needs of workers must also be taken into account, so that God may more easily draw them into deeper relationship toward their ultimate purpose.
One of my favorite memories of being stationed in Germany was the mandatory closing to shops from Saturday afternoon until early Monday morning. As a result I was able to spend time with my family and walking with them through the beautiful German woodlands and a family. Often we Volksmarched together. There are Volksmarching Clubs in America.
A Day to Synchronize Society[4]
"The Constitutional Court had to overthrow the
Berlin law. ... The judgement was not 'out of touch with reality,' as the
Berlin Chamber of Commerce claims, but is actually very closely in touch with
real life. The great diversity of working lives brings with it the fact that
members of a single family are forced into different and sometimes incompatible
working hours. If the state does not use some of its regulatory power to give a
dependable rhythm to at least one free day -- and that is still Sunday -- then
the family faces the threat of being pulled further apart." "If they
have no time with each other and for each other, then the formal notion of
belonging together loses value. This danger faces many families in society. …
The fact that in the face of growing commercialization and fewer jobs hardly
any employee ever dares to ask for a free Saturday, led the labor unions to
join the churches in their campaign -- with noticeable success."
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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