Think differently about Labor Day

Today is Labor Day. For a few moments, though, why not dispatch with the holiday’s conventional themes. Forget this day was meant to honor laborers. Forget that today marks the unofficial end to summer. Get past the fact that today is your last chance to attend the Minnesota State Fair. For just a moment or two, let go of the plans to help the kids load up their backpacks for tomorrow, the first day of a new school year. For the time it takes to read this post, put the first day of kindergarten or junior high or college out of your mind.

You’ve stopped at the farm after all. Welcome. Journey with me for a moment as we think about Labor Day just a bit differently?


A Labor Day Reflection

Here’s how the day starts …

It is 6:38 a.m. The day starts humbly. The sun brings no expectations.


Here’s how the day will end … at 7:47 p.m. There will be mosquitos.

In between, well ...

between a humble sunrise and a spectacular sunset, 13 hours, 9 minutes and 51 seconds stretches out like a soybean field. This is Labor Day but it could be any day.

And so, what to do with the intervening hours, how to best spend 13 hours, plus change? That is the challenge.

Will we set a goal?
Will we live the day for ourselves or live it for others?
Will we make a plan or will we sit idly, reacting to the plans others have made that affect us?
Will we pray?
Will we help?
Will we labor?
Will we serve?
Will we share?
Will we laugh?
Will we learn something new?
Will we reflect?
Will we call a friend?
Will we read a book?
Will we find some reason to be grateful?
Will we bring meaning to any of our actions?
Will we act in a loving manner?

Between sunrise and sunset on this Labor Day, we will face dozens of opportunities in which to spend 13 hours, 9 minutes and 51 seconds of our alloted daylight. There are plenty of ways to squander this time. Plenty of ways; we all know what they are.

Labor Day is short, just 13 hours, 9 minutes and 51 seconds of daylight. You may spend these hours in activities of your choice. You know what you like to do, how you typically spend your free time.

But if I may be so bold to make one tiny suggestion? However you choose to labor on Labor Day, make it a labor of love. Be passionate about something. Use some of the time for good, however you choose to define it.

And if that doesn’t fit into plans that have already been laid, fear not. There’s always tomorrow. Tuesday, September 4 will start much like Monday did. Humbly. If you’re lucky enough to wake up on Tuesday, your opportunity to make the most of the daylight is renewed. You get another chance, except you get three fewer minutes.