Monday, September 3 is "labor day"... a day to take off from work, established as a holiday in celebration and appreciation of "labor". Labor by tradition and reputation is a thing to be avoided if possible, and to be saved from by the acquisition of technological devices. According to Wikipedia: The holiday began in 1882, originating from a desire by the Central Labor Union to create a day off for the "working man".

I think it is time to rethink the concept of labor and to ask the question, "from which human activities does dignity arise? Does dignity arise from what we have been given, or from what we have earned and kept for ourselves? Or does it arise from what we have learned and made and given in service to others?

I think labor day should be a day to explore the concept of dignity and how it arises in the heart of the worker as he or she explores craftsmanship, service and growth.

If we want the world to become a better place in which we better meet our responsibilities to our natural environment and each other that better place will arise from labor.