Miners dust the mine walls (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This week’s edition of Pretzels and Bullfights is a bit of a special. For those of you abroad, what you may not know is that here in my native U.S.A. is presently rather important holiday: Labor Day. As you may have guessed from the name, it’s a holiday our nation takes to celebrate the craft and capabilities of its labor force, and the working figure in society. If you’re not one for parades, you usually at least get a nice little day off to celebrate it…
And so I thought, why doesn’t Pretzels and Bullfights take the time to share in a bit of that hardworking praise? So we turn to an author by the name of Henry Van Dyke, who, while spiritual in much of his scribblings, offered in the form of his poem, “They Who Tread the Path of Labor,” a very exalted look at the wonder of human dedication. We have all, I am sure, felt the wears of exhaustion–but is there any greater feeling than knowing we have truly accomplished something with our own two hands? Through the application of our human endurance to overcome the toils? Van Dyke captured beautifully, here, the praise we should all sing for the multitude, the very backbone of society, past and present.
Enjoy!
They who work without complaining, do the holy will of God;
Nevermore thou needest seek me; I am with thee everywhere;
Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me, clease the wood and I am there.Where the many toil together, there am I among My own;
Where the tired workman sleepeth, there am I with him alone:
I, the Peace that passeth knowledge, dwell amid the daily strife;
I, the Bread of Heav’n am broken in the sacrement of life.
Every task, however simple, sets the soul that does it free;
Every deed of love and mercy, done to man is done to Me.
Nevermore thou needest seek me; I am with thee everywhere;
Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me; cleave the wood, and I am there.
dVerse 
Thanks for your interesting post, and Happy Labor Day! Here’s a Labor Day limerick I wrote today, but haven’t had a chance to post on my blog:
I enjoined myself, “Don’t be a jerk.
“Write a holiday piece. Do not shirk!”
But I labored with rhymes:
Nothing quite fit the times.
So my Labor Day lim’ricks don’t work.
oh i like this much chris – what a wonderful poem – has something deeply comforting to it… Happy Labor Day to all our Canadian and American friends!!
happy labor day chris…and all who are enjoying the extra day today…i think there is something of hard work and putting your all into it and finding fulfillment in it…
Happy Labor Day. The people of the U.S, enjoy a well deserved rest.
I had not known of this poet and his labor hymn before and I am glad to know them now. The later labor movements of both the USA and Canada also inspired poems and songs from white and blue-collared laborers both working and unemployed, from union organizers and agitators and liberals and conservatives and military–men and women and children on every level–so many voices in praise, protest, and prayer about contributing to the daily good of themselves, their countries and the world. Labor Day–even in these bad times–is one of our most inspiring holidays.
I would repeat the words you give of Henry VanDyke above:
“Every task, however simple, sets the soul that does it free;
Every deed of love and mercy, done to man is done to Me”
and add
Let us Hold in the Light all people that we may share the labor and resources needed to maintain and to advance life.
(I get a little emotional about this.)
Enjoyed this post….happy labor day….
Something very universally solid about the poem…very spiritual and yet very homely…belated wishes
Just beautiful! Thank you for bringing this poet and poem to our attention.
I can’t help but think of the many displaced laborers who, due to a changing world and politics, have either been replaced or lost their trade, thus lead lives they did not choose naturally….. or unexpectedly had to find a totally different life..
Chris….. definitely a holiday that falls between the cracks too often. Thanks for this treasure!
Thanks for your celebratory post, Chris! Even here in Canada we celebrate Labour Day, and it was in that spirit that I spent the day. Cheers!
I belatedly found your post… Maybe that is a good thing. I think that it is appropriate for every day of the year! That is why i”m going to repost it. A great poem- emphasizing the value, dignity, and ‘goodness’ of work. That work is a gift, as in, having it, and being able to do it is something we value, especially if it is taken away, or our health prevents it.
Reblogged this on Zellie M. Quinn and commented:
Had tor reblog this one- a reminder of the great blessing that work is!