The Labor Day holiday was started by two blue-collar guys in New York City. Seems a carpenter and a typesetter in the 1800's were upset by the fact that the government wouldn't promote legislation to limit tradesmen to a 40-hour work week in addition to tightening up immigration laws, thereby protecting their jobs. So, they took to the streets in protest on the principle that if you don't get enough rest you'll be an unproductive worker. I'd like to think that they also wanted to have more abundant lives.

My friends in Europe have laws that require their employers to limit their work schedules to 37.5 hours per week or less...and their "perks" include a healthy number of vacation days. A good editorial cartoon highlights the American attitude towards rest.

I'm wondering why we feel this way about rest. And I'm wondering what steps we'd have to take to get back to this mindset that rest is good. And I'm thinking it would actually help our economy to have 6 people instead of 4 working 240 man-hours. And isn't it interesting that the one thing God actually spends a great deal of the Old Testament (and New, for that matter) promising the Israelites...you got it...REST?!

I believe that rest is part of an abundant life (American dream?)...thanks, Matt McGuire and William McCabe for reminding us of that.