I cannot be the only person who thinks of Labor Day as a holiday primarily intended to mark the end of summer. With the last big cookout of the year, the final weekend that the local pool is open, and the time when white sundresses and sandals transition from being on high rotation to “out of season,” Labor Day is the final hurrah of the summer months. Right!?

As a person who loves to mark the changing seasons and finds every reason to use a transition as an opportunity for a grand farewell and a fresh start, I really have no problem considering Labor Day the moment in which summer waves goodbye and fall is ushered in. But the reality is that Labor Day, at least officially, has nothing to do with either grilling, picnics, and beach days, or their autumnal counterparts of pumpkin spice lattes, back to school shopping, and a box full of sharpened pencils.

Officially, Labor Day is an annual celebration — always observed on the first Monday in September — of the achievements of American workers.  The holiday dates back to the late nineteenth century, when labor activists advocated for a recognized day to honor the contributions American workers have made to the nation's prosperity.

Now, I’m never going to stop using Labor Day as a day to celebrate the end of a joyful season; and I highly doubt that I’ll ever relinquish the urge to freshen up my office supplies right around the day that’s basically synonymous with “back-to-school” in my brain. But I’ve also gotten to thinking recently that Labor Day can and should be a meaningful day to reflect on my labor, as a worker both inside and outside the home. Labor is worth reflecting on, after all, especially for people of faith, who consider work not just a means of earning a living and keeping our families running, but as an opportunity to fulfill our God-given purpose and contribute to God’s kingdom.

In that spirit, I want to offer in this post a few practical tips on how to infuse everyday work with a sense of vocation.

Pray before starting your workday

Many of us start our days with prayer, but I think its worth praying specifically for your labor as you arrive at your workplace or begin your tasks for the day. Perhaps you pray for your co-workers, or the people you serve through your work. Perhaps you ask God to be with you in the challenges that you anticipate facing, or to guide you to be Christlike in all your words and actions. Or, you could simply recite a relevant prayer. I often start my workday with the Prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Find a “patron saint” for your work-self

The saints are for us followers of Jesus not only intercessors on our behalf, but guides for our way of being in the world. I like the idea of choosing a patron saint who is especially relevant to your line of work to pray to, learn about, and keep in mind as you engage in your job. For instance, Mother Mary is the obvious choice for stay at home moms, but St. Monica (mother of Augustine) and St. Anne (mother of Mary) are also good choices. St. Agatha is the patron saint of nurses, St. Michael the Archangel that of firefighters and police officers, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the patron of teachers. I can almost guarantee that if you google “patron saint of…” followed by your profession, you’ll find a keeper.

 

Take prayer breaks as needed throughout the work day

Most people take time throughout the day to use the restroom, eat lunch, walk around the building, say hello to co-workers, and drink water. Consider making it a habit to take prayer breaks throughout the day. It can be as simple as choosing and repeating a prayerful mantra, like “Open my eyes, Lord; help me to see your face,” or “Come Holy Spirit,” or “God is here.”

Spend some time reflecting, every now and then, on your work

Just like you began your work day with prayer, you can end it in a reflective sort of prayer, like the examen; alternatively, you might spend some time on a Friday afternoon reflecting on and praying about where you saw God in your work week; or, you might take an annual or semi-annual half or full day off work to spend some time on a personal “mini retreat” considering your present understanding of your purpose and vocation. However you do it, here are some questions you might ask yourself anytime you make time to reflect on your work life:

• Where am I seeing the presence of God in my work?
• In what ways is my work serving others and glorifying God?
• How do I see myself using the gifts that God has given me in my work?
• Are there areas where I feel unfulfilled, and how might God be guiding me to address these feelings?
• How does my work impact my relationship with God?
• How does my work impact my relationship with my family? My friends? My community?
• Are there skills or virtues that God is calling me to cultivate through my work?
• Am I upholding Christian values and integrity in my work decisions and interactions?
• How can I reflect Christ’s love and compassion in my relationships with colleagues/co-workers/managers/etc. and my students/clients/customers/patients/etc?
• How can I seek God’s guidance in discerning the path God desires for me as I move forward in my professional life?

Whether you work from home or an office; whether you are part of a large company or are self-employed; whether you serve others directly or indirectly; whatever the specifics of your labor, I  pray that this Labor Day may be one of joy, gratitude and growth as you reflect on the fruits of your labor and the gifts God has given you.