We’re now beyond the dreadful heat that smothered many of us and left some gasping for air. Many of us work in air-conditioned offices and some of us live in air-conditioned houses. The overwhelming sense anyone had when exiting the office, house, or even a car was one of smothering heat. It promises to be relatively cool, but we’ll see how long that lasts.
However, there are many men and women who sweltered in the fields and non-air-conditioned factories without water breaks. Warehouse workers have been among them. Some states like California and Oregon have instituted rules regarding breaks and access to water, but most of the rest of the country has not.
As we eat our berries and salads, it’s a moral imperative to consider the conditions under which the field hands had to work so we could enjoy our food. Does not our commitment as Christians to justice and righteousness require that no one should work under conditions that are injurious to health?
Prayer for the Day
Life Giver, you flow into our lives as does water from a spring,
And we come, seeking guidance, seeking hope, seeking life;
Bring us into the center of your life, the center of your being
So we may fully understand the meaning of your gift of life to us.
Break open the doors that constrain us and enlarge our vision,
Enabling us to love more fully as we are loved,
In the name of the One who brings us a new meaning of love,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.
- Martin Luther King (1929-1968)
My real work and my greatest challenge are trying to overcome deceits that end up jeopardizing public health and safety.
- Erin Brockovich, activist
The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
Psalm 103:6