Journeys 9-3-06

Journeys 9-3-06:

According to Wikipedia.com:

"The origins of the American Labor Day can be traced back to the Knights of
Labor in the United States and a parade organized by them on September 5,
1882 in New York City. They were inspired by an annual labor parade held in
Toronto, Canada. In 1884 another parade was held, and the Knights passed
resolutions to make this an annual event.

Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United
States since the 1880s. The September date has remained unchanged, even
though the government was encouraged to adopt May 1 as Labor Day, the date
celebrated by the majority of the world. Moving the holiday, in addition to
breaking with tradition, could have been viewed as aligning the U.S. labor
movements with internationalist sympathies.

Labor Day is generally regarded simply as a day of rest and, unlike May Day,
political demonstrations are rare. Forms of celebration include picnics,
barbecues, fireworks displays, water activities, and public art events.
Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel
before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the
last weekend for parties before returning to school.

One of the largest modern traditions of Labor Day in the United States is
the annual telethon of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, hosted by Jerry
Lewis to fund research and patient support programs for the various diseases
grouped as muscular dystrophy. The telethon raises tens of millions of
dollars each year. In 2005, despite the recent catastrophe caused by
Hurricane Katrina, nearly $55 million was raised over 21 hours."

In the Karges family, for years, Labor Day meant getting together in Albion
for my grandma's birthday. It started on her 90th and continued a decade
until her death a couple years ago. We'd get together at the City Park or
at the Wolf Home's "Hospitality Room," and eat and cluster in generations
around the room to talk. The third and fourth generations would run around
getting to know each other. For me it brought back memories of growing up
years and Sunday dinners at Grandma's house; the adults in the dining room,
the "kid table" in the kitchen. You had to be married to sit with the
adults. After dinner, the adults would sit around and talk while we kids
would go outside for football or baseball and play until somebody got hurt.

This year, Labor Day means the first Husker home football game in
conjunction with the State Fair and a day of rest on Monday. It is a
Sabbath day of rest before the fall schedule takes off in full stride. May
God grant you rest as we transition to the next season, (starting NOW!).

Grace & Peace,