Restless in Chicago

A repost. As originally published by EV Mail News for the week of July 11-17, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-of-july-11-17-2011

I have my own personal version of Sleepless in Seattle, I call it "Restless in Chicago." No it's not another movie, it's not even a title of a funny home video. "Restless in Chicago" is just what I was when we first came to this beautiful city.

I was so restless primarily because I didn't have anything to do. This was after the fact that we've already settled down in our new apartment, we've taken all the necessary steps to get IDs, licenses, forms, etc., which were needed for our new life and we've already found our way around the city by walking, by car and public transportation. Then now what? Of course, there was the mundane task of looking for a job but other than that, I had my hands empty. I was literally freaking out!

This is part of life of an immigrant in America. Being a stranger in a new place, with no friends and sometimes even no family around to keep company. It's no wonder several of us become restless. I simply needed something to do, anything! I just wanted to be busy like when I was still in Tacloban. But wait, what was I busy with over there in the first place? I can't even seem to remember but I know I was busy!

Oh there was my job and with my extended family all over the place that was more than enough to keep my hands full. Then there were church ministries I volunteer for each week, group meetings to join, outings to plan. Also fiestas and carnivals to visit, birthdays and weddings to attend, trips to the barrios just because. Whew! No wonder I was busy.

Then here's life in America. Please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say because I do love my job. I'm so grateful God has provided me and my husband with regular, full-time work when thousands of others don't have any. I appreciate the fact that everyday when I wake up I have somewhere to go, where I'm expected to be and where I'm needed to do my job. I also like the fact that I'm able to pay my bills and help provide for my family.

I've never been a lazy worker. Even in the Philippines I worked since after I graduated from college until we left for Chicago. I know how it is to work hard. But even after working some 12 years in the Philippines, I've never seen a career and job-oriented society more than America. They pay us by the hour and it's normal for people here to have 2 to 3 jobs at one time and to work extended hours. Almost all our activities and plans with family and friends revolve around our work schedules. That's cool I guess, but all I'm saying is I've never seen it quite in that light before. To quote my husband, "In America, I'm working hard. In the Philippines, I was hardly working!"

Funny as he makes it to be, it's quite true. As part of the saying goes, "All work and no play..." makes people restless too. Americans are very hard-working people which is a good value to instill in our children but I do believe there must be some balance.

I agree that we all should work hard and laziness should not be tolerated but we must never neglect the time to unwind as well. Even Jesus Himself, retreated away from the crowds and away from His ministry with people to have some time alone. Time alone spent with God His Father, to commune with Him and to revive His human well-being. People tend to burn-out like candles, get frustrated and be uninspired after long hauls of just work, work and more work.

In the U.S., with all its greatness, employers are not required to give vacation or sick time to their employees, although I should point out that most of them do give it anyway. I've watched a feature report on TV here in Chicago where they talked about how Americans have to be forced almost to take a vacation as compared with our European counterparts.

The French take their vacations very seriously. Travel experts say not to plan to go to France in the summer months because all the streets will be deserted because the shopkeepers, restaurant owners and basically everybody is away on vacation. And it's not just for the weekend, it's for a full five weeks of pure relaxation! Heaven on earth. Or close to it.

In the Philippines, we may not take our bakasyon to such extreme like the French but we do have our own ways. We have the siesta, merienda and the suroy. We do the istambay and the pahuway like beautiful pieces of work. The Pinoys have perfected the "art" of doing absolutely nothing which for some people is completely impossible. I believe these things make life a bit easier on everybody. A little rest and a short nap actually go a long way, experts say. They even call it "power naps." 

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." -Psalms 46:10

Slowly I noticed that my restlessness was beginning to fade away as the days went by. As my job started to make me busy, school projects and home works were piling up and as I find new friends to have fellowship with, life began to "happen." I finally found my equilibrium.

I began to realize God was teaching me something personal as well. He wanted me to find His joy in whatever circumstance I'm in. He showed me Bible verses which helped me to understand that restlessness is not from Him. He wants me to be still before Him, to rest in Him and to accept His peace that surpasses all understanding.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7

"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still." -Psalms 4:4

Now I'm restless in Chicago no more (that's how they say it here) or anywhere it is I might happen to be someday or sometime in the future with God's perfect will.