Clay in the Hands

Yesterday was Labor Day here in the US.  A national holiday instituted in 1887, Labor Day is a day set aside to celebrate the workers of America.  What began as a way to recognize the economic and social efforts of the American workforce has become a day off from work (at least for some) when we have cook-outs and spend time with family and friends.

While that is a wonderful thing to do, I thought for a second this morning I would point out that God created us to be diligent and work.  I was taught that there is great satisfaction in a hard day’s work.  It is a healthy experience to get to the end of the day and turn around and look at what was accomplished through the day.

But is that all there is to work?  Just a sense of accomplishment in a job well done?  What about those days when you lay down at night and think, “I can’t think of one thing I actually completed today”?

Depending on your job, you may have many days like that.

But maybe we should approach our work with a different attitude.  Perhaps true fulfillment comes in working to please God.  When we focus on doing our best for God’s glory, even the menial tasks take on new meaning.  Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite brother from the middle ages said that he felt the presence of God among the pots and pans in the kitchen just much as he did at holy communion.

Today, approach each task with an effort to please God with your work.

See if it makes a difference.

Be blessed today.