Labor Day

Ever since Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden by Yahweh, it is has been the human assignment to work for their daily bread. Some have classified the requirement to work as the human curse. Others, more level-headed, would ascribe to working the opportunity to become fully human.

We work because we must. We must earn enough money to support our families, to pay for the basics, to keep the wolf from the door.

We work because it is adult behavior expected of us by our parents, siblings, spouse, children, neighbors and society in general.

We work because our personal American identity and value are inextricably interwoven with what we do to make a living. Fellow Americans rate who and what we are by what we do professionally. This commendable practice and custom tells us many things about Americans.

First, to work is to be alive and to work is to be esteemed by others. Second, humans are naturally lazy and passive. Only the culture that values and rewards industry and activism will be a progressive society every reforming, prospering, changing and growing. Third, this society of the common man, historically, rated each person by what he did. A society of aristocrats/drones would not prize what a worker made with his hands. A corollary to this culture that expects personal industriousness is that none can restore his laurels. He is only as successful as what he did yesterday, and he must prove himself tomorrow and forever.

The moderate philosopher would advise that leisure, play and luxury have their place. The healthy adult must arise each day to work for his daily bread. He must also pursue the self-chosen path to personal fulfillment best matching who he is and what wants to become. Work makes that possible.

Agatha Christie in her novel Nemesis describes the expert to select who will be the best at that endeavor. That person must be experienced, knowledgeable and skilled. The best in her field will be the one who has a flair for this task.

May this Labor Day be a pleasant respite for you. Conduct your vision quest and discover what it is that you have a flair for. Plan you work and work your plan. This way your dream will come true, bestowing glory and accolades upon you. The world gains too, as you have made it a little better and made people a little smarter through you life-long efforts.