Sunday Musings - September 4, 2022
In the United States it is Labor Day weekend. Labor Day was declared a national holiday in 1894 . The roots of this day grew out of violent clashes between labor and police during the Haymarket Riot in 1886 when thousands of workers in Chicago took to the streets to demand an eight-hour workday.
Some of us are blessed to work for ourselves although we are not always the kindest employer to ourselves. A relatively few may work for a company or organization where one is treated with enormous respect emotionally and financially. Many continue to work for employers who work them until they expire emotionally, spiritually and physically. It is sad that the employer whose has bought the lie that that our self-worth is based on how many toys we can buy, how big our house is, or what college one’s children attend is often very lonely and has to keep chasing after something which temporarily makes him or her feel important.
In some cultures, some hold on to the practice of only working until one has enough to pay the bills and perhaps save something for emergencies. They may then close up for the day at noon and go home to be with their families.
Many, especially those whose primary job is childcare and home management, do not get a paycheck, paid vacations or even appreciation. Some are, however, in a very loving, respectful relationship in which their work is considered as important as the partner whose may get a paycheck.
Some individuals feed our souls by creating music, art, dance, poetry, music, novels, and sculptures. Some feed us spiritually in other ways. Pema Chodron, Ram Dass and the Dali Lama are such individuals. I have known a few Rabbi’s, ministers, and imams’ who fed me spiritually. Some who have fed me were recognized as wise elders and were honored as such in their community. Such was the case with David and Minnie in their Tlingit Indian village of Hoonah Alaska. Many of my spiritual teachers have been wise women. Often my teachers are the homeless, those in prison and those who have no outward traditional symbols of success. Jesus was such a teacher as was Mother Theresa.
On this Labor Day, one might want to pause and consider the model of success which we want to model for the children in our home or village. Is success how much money we make or other symbols of financial gain? Is quietly listening valuable labor. How about creating a quiet, nurturing space where we can feed each other physically and emotionally? Can we have a mealtime without cell phones or other devices?
A good friend of mine was a “stay at home mom” in the District of Columbia. She raised two boys in the museum and historic monuments of the city. Her husband was a lawyer for the Justice Department. They spent very little time on creating a “perfectly” manicured home. If one was invited to dinner, one went early enough to wash dishes. One had to clear off a chair or couch if one wanted a place to sit. it was not a home which would ever be featured in some house beautiful magazine. Yet, it was a home in which every corner was filled with love and opportunities to exercise one’s heart and mind. Their respective labor made a huge difference in the lives of their children who then touched the lives of many others. Later mom became a teacher in the inner-city schools of the DC area again teaching by modeling a rich emotional and spiritual life.
My friend Paul who just graduated from college is working for a company which has work in another country. Although Paul is staying in luxury hotels he is impressed with and spending time with the “locals”, the hotel staff and some of his colleagues. His labor is not only the work for which he is being paid but being present with all he encounters regardless of position, wealth, or class.
On this Labor Day some of us might choose to quietly consider what we want to teach the children of our village what counts as labor; what labor we honor and what we take for granted.
Written September 4, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
In the United States it is Labor Day weekend. Labor Day was declared a national holiday in 1894 . The roots of this day grew out of violent clashes between labor and police during the Haymarket Riot in 1886 when thousands of workers in Chicago took to the streets to demand an eight-hour workday.
Some of us are blessed to work for ourselves although we are not always the kindest employer to ourselves. A relatively few may work for a company or organization where one is treated with enormous respect emotionally and financially. Many continue to work for employers who work them until they expire emotionally, spiritually and physically. It is sad that the employer whose has bought the lie that that our self-worth is based on how many toys we can buy, how big our house is, or what college one’s children attend is often very lonely and has to keep chasing after something which temporarily makes him or her feel important.
In some cultures, some hold on to the practice of only working until one has enough to pay the bills and perhaps save something for emergencies. They may then close up for the day at noon and go home to be with their families.
Many, especially those whose primary job is childcare and home management, do not get a paycheck, paid vacations or even appreciation. Some are, however, in a very loving, respectful relationship in which their work is considered as important as the partner whose may get a paycheck.
Some individuals feed our souls by creating music, art, dance, poetry, music, novels, and sculptures. Some feed us spiritually in other ways. Pema Chodron, Ram Dass and the Dali Lama are such individuals. I have known a few Rabbi’s, ministers, and imams’ who fed me spiritually. Some who have fed me were recognized as wise elders and were honored as such in their community. Such was the case with David and Minnie in their Tlingit Indian village of Hoonah Alaska. Many of my spiritual teachers have been wise women. Often my teachers are the homeless, those in prison and those who have no outward traditional symbols of success. Jesus was such a teacher as was Mother Theresa.
On this Labor Day, one might want to pause and consider the model of success which we want to model for the children in our home or village. Is success how much money we make or other symbols of financial gain? Is quietly listening valuable labor. How about creating a quiet, nurturing space where we can feed each other physically and emotionally? Can we have a mealtime without cell phones or other devices?
A good friend of mine was a “stay at home mom” in the District of Columbia. She raised two boys in the museum and historic monuments of the city. Her husband was a lawyer for the Justice Department. They spent very little time on creating a “perfectly” manicured home. If one was invited to dinner, one went early enough to wash dishes. One had to clear off a chair or couch if one wanted a place to sit. it was not a home which would ever be featured in some house beautiful magazine. Yet, it was a home in which every corner was filled with love and opportunities to exercise one’s heart and mind. Their respective labor made a huge difference in the lives of their children who then touched the lives of many others. Later mom became a teacher in the inner-city schools of the DC area again teaching by modeling a rich emotional and spiritual life.
My friend Paul who just graduated from college is working for a company which has work in another country. Although Paul is staying in luxury hotels he is impressed with and spending time with the “locals”, the hotel staff and some of his colleagues. His labor is not only the work for which he is being paid but being present with all he encounters regardless of position, wealth, or class.
On this Labor Day some of us might choose to quietly consider what we want to teach the children of our village what counts as labor; what labor we honor and what we take for granted.
Written September 4, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
RSS Feed