Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is dedicated to a celebration of the social and economic contribution of American workers. The form of their observance was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday more than 100 years ago: “a street parade to show the public ‘the strength and the corps spirit of the trade and labor organizations’ of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and entertainment of the Workers and their families. ” (U.S. Department of Labor)
To name this day:
Movies
Watch some movies about other workers. Share your challenges and successes, then talk to your colleagues about them. Values ​​& Visions Guides are available online for these DVDs:
Personal explorations
Think about the meaning of your working life. Matthew Fox writes in The Reinvention of Work: “A good life and good work go together. Life and livelihood should not be separated, but flow from the same source … Spirit means life, and both life and livelihood refer to life below. Living with meaning, purpose, joy and the feeling of contributing to the larger community. A work spirituality is about bringing life and livelihood back together. And the spirit with them. ”
E courses
Register for our e-course Practicing Spirituality at Work. It is available “on demand” so you can choose your start date and frequency. Choose a daily 40-day intensive program that will receive an email every morning. Choose twice a week for a slower pace and more time with the individual exercise suggestions. Choose weekly and the course will take you almost to the next day of work.
Prayers & mantras
Pray at work. Here are two prayers you can use or create your own special working prayer:
“Oh God, let me be careful with my speech and actions and provide care rather than harm to all the lives I touch that day. Don’t let me get unnecessarily angry and harshly judge others in my dealings with those I work for. And if there is a need to be critical, let me do it clearly and calmly. Let me always try to remember that we are all flawed and wounded creatures, even if we are all equally in your likeness. I hope to succeed in my endeavors to make a living, even if I hope that success does not come unnecessarily at the expense of others. May the words of my mouth and my inner thoughts be acceptable to you today as they reflect what is holy and the best in me, your servant and companion of creation. “
– Rabbi Michael Strassfield in A Book of Life
You, O divine, out of his hands
comes the work of creation, so artfully designed,
I pray that I will do this work
can be done in company with you.
May the work that I will begin soon begin
sing praises to you
like songbirds.
May the work begin that I will begin soon
add the light to your presence
because it is done with great love.
May the work that I will begin soon begin
Speak like an ancient prophet
Your dream of beauty and unity.
May the work begin that I will begin soon
be a shimmering mirror of your handicraft
in the excellence of its execution,
in the joy of doing it for its own sake,
in my poverty of possessions
in my openness to failure or success,
in my invitation to others to participate
and in its fertility for the world.
May I be aware of that through this work
I am approaching you.
I come to you beloved
with ready hands.
– Father Edward Hays in prayers for a planetary pilgrim