Brian Gosur

Advice and Strategies That Will Take You Out of This World

Tag Archives: death

Labor Day

The holiday originated out of Canada over labor disputes that were taking place over a nine hour work day. Peter J. McGuire, an American labor leader,  witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto, and thought that was a great idea. On September 5th, 1882, the first labor day celebrated in the United Sates took place.

When I was growing up, I never really thought to much about the Labor Day holiday. As a matter of fact, it is one of the least celebrated holidays in the country. Not a lot of thought goes into the professions that keep this country alive and well.

One of the most popular professions that we have heard a lot about, since the attacks on our country on Sept. 11, 2001, is our men and women of the armed services. They are on the front lines risking their lives, 24 7, for our well being and our freedom. So many lives that have been lost, many are only known to the comrades they fought next to, and the family and friends that they left behind. True heroes, each and everyone of them.

There are other professions, that are not so well known, but hold a very important and key roll in the lives of all of us.

Power Linemen, that risk their lives also, to keep the juice flowing to our homes and businesses, that keep our country working round the clock. Workers that have to helicoptered in to work on lines that can not be accessed any other way. They work with extremely high voltage, and one slip up, and they turn into a french fry. They are also working at extremely high altitudes, with lines that are in mountainous regions, out in the middle of no where. The power linesmen had the highest mortality rate back in the early days. Many a linesmen went off to work, never to return to their homes.

Power Linemen video Click on this link to watch a short video about the dangers of a Power Lineman.

Window washers of high rise buildings, divers that keep our sewers clean and running, police and firemen, doctors and nurses,  loggers, who died at a rate of 117.8 per 100,000 workers. Most of them killed by falling trees. Iron workers who have a 58.2 death rate for every 100,000 workers. And the list goes on.

This is why labor unions were formed. Like them or not, they helped the workers and protected their rights.

I worked in an auto company for thirty five years before taking my retirement, and there were times when an ambitious foreman, trying to impress his boss, would put you and maybe your co-workers in danger of serious injury or even death, just to get a job done in a fraction of time. He was trying to look good at your expense. My job now as an internet marketeer, and with United First Financial, is nothing compared to what these people do.

There are so many more, and if you are in one of these professions and I left you out, pleases leave a comment at the end of this blog. I would like to hear from you and any stories that you might have.

I stop and think about it, there are so many people that I owe a big wealth of gratitude too. So many jobs that I never ever think about. I want to take this time now, and personally thank each and everyone of you American laborers, for your dedication and hard work, for putting the needs of others up above the needs of yourself, and for making this great country of ours greater.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God richly bless you and your families.

As I Was Praying

LAST WEEK, GOD OPENED A new window on what He and I can do together. I was in the middle of preparing for a class I’m teaching at church when God reminded me that He is life. As in, “I have come that they may have life” (Jn. 10:10) and “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (Ro. 4:17).
Then He invited me to join Him in the business of bringing life. “In any situation where there is ‘death’,” He said, “You get to pray and ask me to bring life.”
Whoa. That’s a prayer focus that had never occurred to me. I’ve gotten so used to living with realities such as “Too good to be true” and “Going from bad to worse” that it doesn’t occur to me to notice where elements of death are at work in a situation—they’re like background noise.
But God’s invitation has nudged me to look at situations from a death-and-life viewpoint. Sometimes it’s obvious where life is needed, as when a friend is grappling with cancer. In other situations, I’ve had to look a little harder. I’ve sat in meetings and conversations wondering, “Is there an element of ‘death’ in what we’re talking about—maybe through an attitude, an emotion, a way of thinking, or a practice?” And I’ve sent up little prayers, “Father, would you bring life here?” or “What would you like to do here that would bring life?”
Looking around and realizing, “I get to ask God to bring life,” has been fun—mostly. You see, this prayer has had an unexpected consequence: It’s revealed I’m not always eager for God to answer it. How can that be?! I’ve tasted life and know how wonderful it is; why wouldn’t I want that touch on everything around me?
Truth is, I don’t. In one situation, I’ve gotten used to the dynamics; I can navigate them just fine. If that situation were brimming with life, I’d have to grapple with the change. In another situation, I’ve been chagrined to find myself thinking, Why bring life and let them off the hook? They made their bed; they can lie in it.
Oh me of small heart and small faith.
And, apparently, even smaller vision for what God might want to do.
And even smaller reverence for His sovereignty! All He’s invited me to do is ask for His life. I don’t remember Him asking me to determine when and how He should bring it.
So I ask for forgiveness for my small heart, and continue praying my new prayer, that the King of Life will bring His “Midas” touch to those around me.

God bless you all.