Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of August 22-28, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-august-22-28-2011

I have lived all my life in Tacloban for some 30 years before we left for the U.S. Can you imagine how it feels like to experience winter for the very first time? There's absolutely nothing that can prepare you for it. Reading about it is one thing, looking at it from the movies and through Christmas cards is another, but to be actually in it is something different all together.

Yes, snow is postcard-pretty and winter is beautiful especially during the holidays and at Christmas time. It's synonymous with Christmas trees, gifts, red ribbons and silver bows, caroling, hot chocolate with marshmallows, cozy evenings, warm blankets, and a fireplace (if you have one). It's always fun to play in the snow but it's most enjoyable for kids rather than for the "oldies."

In Chicago, nicknamed as the Windy City, a mere 30 degrees Fahrenheit on winter (that's negative 1.1 degrees Celsius) may translate, with the brutal wind chill, to a negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit (or, -23.3 degrees Celsius)! The only way I can describe it for you who live in the tropics is this way --it's like eating ice candy inside a huge freezer with an electric fan turned on high and you're soaking wet to the bones. There.

For me, part of the excitement of winter is the anticipation of the coming springtime. It's one of the attractive qualities of Chicago and the Illinois state as a whole. Despite its infamous weather, we do get to experience all the four seasons God has created so wonderfully. Yeah sure, some Chicagoans may say, and they take this fact for "granted" since according to them we don't get any proper spring in the first place. Whatever they mean by "proper" I really don't know. All I know is that once the snow and ice of winter start to melt, the green grass and the foliage on trees begin to appear and the tulips are abloom, that's spring for me!

Tulips always mean springtime. They are very lovely and delicate flowers. When it's too cold they wilt and when it's too hot they get scorched. It's when the temperature is just right that they bloom perfectly.

After springtime comes summer of course. It's still my top favorite season. Some habits are just hard to break. Summer still brings back great memories of my childhood and my life back in the Philippines. It's the season for picnics and barbecues, of beaches and sunburns, of clear blue skies and long evening walks, of ice cream and a bowl of super special halo-halo!

This is the season to be out of the house and enjoy the warmth for as long as we can because it is short-lived in this part of the world. One of my favorite pastimes is to hang-out in the parks where there are so many activities going on all summer. There are free concerts, free movies, and there is the free grass, sky, air and benches to lounge around on a lazy, breezy afternoons and even on evenings. I wish summers are endless in Chicago but the downside of that is I wouldn't be able to experience the wonders of autumn. Fall, as this season is also called, is my next favorite.

Fall is when God brings out His palette of tremendous, vibrant colors of dark reds, maroons, pinks, browns, golden yellows, bright oranges, dark greens, and different hues of burgundy, mahogany, magenta, and gold. Autumn is another magnificent thing I've never seen before in my life until we came to Chicago. And also, there is absolutely nothing that can prepare you for this glorious season.

Fall is synonymous with pumpkins and gourds, squash and sweet potatoes, berries, apples, pears, pomegranates, allspice, vanilla and cinnamon. All the great and rich foods fresh from the farm become available in autumn maybe in preparation for Thanksgiving, an all-American holiday celebrated every fourth Thursday of November.

Although Thanksgiving is an American tradition going back to the time of the Pilgrims who celebrated it for the first time with some American Indians thanking God for helping them survive a most brutal winter and yet it is a celebration everybody can relate with and which they can do it in their own way. There's simply too much to be grateful for but we offer too little thanks to the One to whom it's due. Thanksgiving is a tradition our own family has adopted, as well as for the millions of multicultural families in America.

The next big celebration after Thanksgiving is Christmas, one of my favorite holidays next to Resurrection day or Easter. Needless to say, winter has taken its full turn by this time of year. Christmas takes on a life of its own because of winter. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are doubly special when there is fresh snow outside.

This wonderful holiday, with the pristine white snow blanketing almost everything, makes winter bearable. Although December 25 is not the actual birth date of Jesus Christ, I'm pretty sure He wouldn't mind for us celebrating it with some flair and a little pomp. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords after all.

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." -Psalms 51:7 

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." -Isaiah 1:18

You know how we understand some things but when "re-learned" in a different perspective it brings out a much deeper, more valuable meaning? I've only fully comprehended these previous verses from the Bible when I saw snow with my very own eyes. That's how white, clean and pure I look in the eyes of God, not because of who I am or what I have done but only because of the cleansing blood of Jesus completely covering me. 

Winter, spring, summer or fall, as the song goes, but I will put my personal spin on it… all we have to do is call on God. He is our friend for every season. And up to now, I still love the four beautiful seasons of Chicago and I don't think I will ever get tired of it.

Concerts at the Park

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the week of August 15-21, 2011.
http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-of-august-15-21-2011


One of the many reasons why I fell in love with Chicago is its "obsession" with having well-maintained, beautiful and accessible public parks everywhere in the city. The fact that I can sit down and relax at these parks with no one to bother me and with free concerts to go with it's simply perfect.

I love the clear skies, the ample grass to stretch out on and the clean air. Summers are extra special in Chicago because we only get to enjoy this season for at least four months in a year. Thousands of tourists flock to the Windy City to participate in the endless enjoyment of activities. The park alone is more than enough for me.

I'm very thankful that I work near the Millennium Park, one of the newest, sleekest and most modern parks in the city. Located in the heart of downtown "Loop," it's bustling with energy and people. Did I already mention the free concerts? How I love those too!

There are classical, the opera, the symphony orchestra performances, there's jazz, African and Latin American music, and these are only few of the wide array of choices in concerts we have here each week. To top it all, we get to enjoy these wonderful events until later into the night since daylight is much longer in summer. People are still out enjoying their picnics, outdoor gatherings, or just simply lounging around even at 8 in the evening.

And let me tell you about these concerts and performances at the park. They are never mediocre. The artists and the musicians are the crème de la crème. The orchestra and the bands are the best in the industry. They may not possess the celebrity status afforded to those who are popular in Hollywood and yet to the hundreds of concert-goers in the park and for those who know what good music is, these performers are "rock stars."

Every show and each performance is teeming with skill, talent and heart. It's impossible for the audience not to be moved by such talent and vigor in front of them. No matter that it's for free. Still, these are world-class performances and a display of extraordinary talents.

My "backyard" and my "lunch room" in the Millennium Park, as I call it, is just a block away from my office. Every break time I get, I go straight to the park and find me a bench to sit, relax, eat my lunch, read my book, watch people, or just simply enjoy a gorgeous Chicago weather. Most of the time, it gets so difficult to go back to work after an hour of pure lunch bliss. Oh well, I just tell myself that I get to do it again the next day and until summer is over.

It's a tremendous feeling to be able to appreciate the beauty of creation in nature. I've never felt like this before especially when I was younger. I felt I was invincible back then and that I can never do anything wrong. I was so selfish it makes me want to slap my teenage self right now. I also used to think 40 years old was old! But now, 65 years old is looking pretty good.

This new-found appreciation I have for all blessings might be stemming out of "getting older syndrome" but how I wish I've always felt this way. It's almost unbearable to think of all those wasted years when I didn't see life with these "renewed" and "grateful" eyes. Even the simple chirping of birds, the soft rain, the trees and the flowers, a nice weather, and especially on sunny days, they all make me so glad and thankful to be alive.

Am I turning into a wimp and a sentimental dreamer? I hope not. I guess I'm only beginning to realize how much I've missed by not appreciating and loving every moment of life. The Bible says all God's works and creation are marvelous. All that comes from Him is good. So there's no reason for me not to regard those things with a positive attitude.

"Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." -Romans 1:19-21

Now, when I look at nature and enjoy all of God's creation, I'd like to believe that I see God's face. It may not be a literal face but I know that He has His "stamp" on it, and most especially, He has His image in all of humanity. And how do I know this for sure? Because He says so in the Scriptures. He created man in His own image and through all things that He has made, people have absolutely no reason nor any excuse to say that we can't know that He exists.

I may be turning into a "wimp" in the eyes of some people but I wouldn't trade these real, heart-warming feelings of appreciation, contentment and thankfulness that God has allowed me to experience. I might be a wimp but I'd rather be a blessed, contented wimp than an ungrateful, thankless one. And maybe, just maybe, my appreciation and enjoyment of all simple things might be contagious.

Is Meekness Obsolete?

A repost. As originally published on EV Mail News for the weeks of August 8-14, 2011 & September 5-11, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-of-august-8-14-2011

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-september-5-11-2011

I'm not the ladylike type of girl. I wish I were and I've always hoped that I can act and speak the same way those ladies used to do during the Victorian era, directly out of the Jane Austen novels. I'm allowed to dream, aren't I? But dream it will remain because I was not brought up that way and I guess it boils down to personality as well. If you know me personally, you know I can never be the timid, quiet one. As my Dad love to say, we are of the Marcos clan, being loud is normal for us. Ha! 

And I love the phrase blessed quietness. I first read it in a devotional booklet I have by Mrs. Debbie Jenkins. I wanted that character for myself. Yes, it is hard and it is not particularly popular especially in these modern times when women are encouraged to speak up and to speak out, to be vocal about our feelings and our opinions.

Our society has now become very opinionated. Sadly, the character of meekness, quietness, and gentleness has been unwittingly regarded as outdated and uninteresting by many. The digital age also helps to stoke the fire of unrest and noise. People are always on the run, with the gotta-be-busy mentality, and somehow we feel inadequate if there is nothing to do or say. I'm a victim of those thoughts myself. Maybe that's why I began blogging recently.

To be "meek" according to the dictionary is to be patient, long-suffering, or to be submissive in disposition or nature; and to be humble. The dictionary also doesn't fail to add that this word is already obsolete. And that it's an obsolete word for gentle and kind. 

Wait, what? When exactly did this happen? When does a word become obsolete? According to my Bible, meekness is not at all obsolete! It is still being talked about in churches, in preaching at the pulpits, and by serious Christians all over the world. And since I'm at it, I might as well add that it is weird for me to say "serious Christian" because the Bible says in so many passages, that not unless you're serious about your faith, you're not a Christian at all.

"Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger." -Zephaniah 2:3

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-23

The above mentioned verse is one of the most compelling reasons why I'm personally convinced that the Bible is God's infallible Word. What man would ever think up of these things? It's absolutely against every fiber of our human being to have all these --a godly love, joy (as opposed to happiness), peace that surpasses all understanding, to be long-suffering, and to be always gentle, always good, always faithful, to be meek, and to have temperance (that's self-control; self-restraint). It's simply impossible! And whoever claims to be all these, all the time, is lying.

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." -1 John 1:10

I know what you're thinking right now and believe me, I don't mean to "preach." I'm writing these stuff more for myself than for anybody else because this meekness topic seems so elusive to me. It is just one tough cookie!

Daily life in Chicago can be tough sometimes, especially for the young and the teenagers. Chicago is one very segregated city. I don't say this to condemn the place because I've already come to love this city as my own, but it's a well-known fact. There is a north side and a south side in Chicago. And I don't mean just for directions. They are two different "worlds" of the city.

We even have two separate baseball teams coming from both "sides," competing with each other. I do understand that this is only a part of a "friendly" spat between teams and the fans to pump up some good old excitement over sports, but there are a few who gets too serious about it. For an avid sports fan, meekness is not necessarily a priority in mind.

The local news report also has daily stories of gang activities in the city. These are not the infamous mafias or the Al Capone/John Dillinger-type of gangs which made Chicago "famous" in the yesteryear. These are kids and teenagers who have too much idle time in their hands. They go into all-out "wars" in the streets and with various types of initiations that involve knives, guns and blood.

The saddest part of all this, it's the innocent bystanders who get hurt in the "crossfires" all the time. I watch mothers of innocent victims wailing on TV, shaking their fists at whoever has done these horrendous things. I can't even begin to imagine what they are going through. I would make a wild guess but I don't think meekness would be anywhere near their thoughts during these times. I know it is hard. I would say it is even unimaginable to remain godly when we see evil things happen all around us, if only I have not personally witnessed people do it despite of wickedness.

This is why God encourages us to have constant fellowship with believers because it's from other people's lives and testimony that we witness the "impossible" becomes possible. It's by sharing our lives with the church (which according to the Bible is not the building but all the living saints and believers collectively) that we see and know that God is mightily at work.

It's with other people's meekness and long-suffering, their peace and their faith in the midst of troubles and pain, that I can fully reconcile what my Bible says and how God shows that He is always true to His Word. Meekness might be one tough cookie but it sure is not obsolete!

Our Skydeck Experience

A repost. As originally published as a feature story in the centerfold of EV Mail News for the week of August 1-7, 2011.

http://www.evmailnews.com/eastern-visayas-mail-digital-issue-of-august-1-7-2011

The Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois is one of the tallest buildings in the world. In 2009, it changed its name to Willis Tower after it was bought by the Willis Group Holdings, Ltd. It was built in 1973 and was the tallest building in the world at that time until 1998, when it was surpassed by the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Willis Tower is still the tallest building in the United States today and it ranks the fifth tallest in the world.

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

So understandably, it's one of the most recognizable structures in the famous Chicago skyline. Towering at 1,450 feet and 110 stories high, it's difficult to miss this famous landmark. In 1982, the building antennas were added to the structure increasing its total height to 1,704 feet, and by the year 2000, one of those antennas was extended to a total of 1,729 feet.

After living in Chicago for more than 6 years now, my family and I finally decided to play "tourists" as we visited the Willis Tower for the first time on the Memorial Day weekend, a U.S. holiday. It was Sunday, May 29, and the day started out to be stormy, foggy, cold and gloomy. But since we've already decided to do our "outing" that day, we proceeded no matter what the weather was like.

We began our "field trip" at Chinatown in Chicago where we had a huge lunch of Korean fried rice, ox tail noodle soup, lemon grass fried chicken wings, fried whole snapper with sweet and sour sauce, and three different kinds of smoothies for our drinks. I had a green tea smoothie, my husband chose his favorite, "ube" or taro smoothie, and my son got the biggest mango smoothie I've ever seen in my life! It came in this gigantic champagne chute-like glass complete with the long stem. It was a sight to see. All our smoothies came with tapioca pearls, of course. After lunch, we were so full we were literally leaning, tummy side down. It was just too much. Remember, gluttony is a sin. I will make sure to think of that until my next meal!

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

Then we decided to drag ourselves to our next destination, the Chicago water taxi station from Chinatown to downtown Chicago. Downtown is nicknamed the "Loop" because of the loop-shaped train tracks circling the area. We went to the taxi pick-up station but because of the stormy weather, the water taxis were not operating on their full schedule that afternoon. We ended up taking the train instead.

After we got off the train, we had to walk a little bit going to the Willis Tower. I was already feeling butterflies in my stomach, anticipating the height and the experience we are about to have up there at 1,400 feet. And by the way, I'm a little scared of heights but just a little.

Then the weather started to let up, the gloom was beginning to fade. There was clear, cloudless sky and the rain finally stopped. By the time we got to the entrance of the building, we were happy that everything was falling into its perfect place. The weather was fine, the crowd was thin, and the line of people going up to the viewing place was short and quick. The viewing spot is at the 103rd floor of the building and it's fittingly called the "Skydeck."

When we arrived at the 103rd floor, it was already past 5 in the afternoon. It was the perfect time to go up since we could enjoy both times of the day. We get to see the view during the daytime when it's still light out and we get to wait to see the sunset later in the evening. I didn't realize though that we had to wait a little bit longer for the sunset that night because in the summer, days are much longer. Here in Chicago, at 8 in the evening, it still looks like it's 4 in the afternoon and the sun is still out in full force.

We took hundreds of pictures and we marveled at the sights and oohed at the great views. We were literally on top of the world. We can see up to four States from up there (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin). The cars, boats, trains and all moving vehicles down at the streets looked like matchbox cars. We couldn't even clearly see any people down there because they all looked like specks from where we are. It was such an amazing experience.

Then it was time to try out the famous or "infamous" Glass Ledge, however you want to refer to it. For me, it is infamous for its offering of a daunting "adventure." These all-glass, almost hanging ledges were opened to the public in 2009. It's like stepping on air or thin ice at 1,353 feet above the ground and 4.3 feet away from the walls of the structure. I was shaking when I made that first step into it but I had to do it for posterity's sake. I had to have at least one picture on that ledge but I couldn't even look down for more than 2 seconds because it was too scary! My husband and my son were just fearless. But I have to admit that it was also exciting.

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

Then we started to see the transformation of the skies and the whole city from day to night. Despite the gloomy start we had that day, we were rewarded with the most glorious sunset. The sky was changing colors every minute. From clear blue, to dark blue with tinges of yellow and orange, then a dramatic change to different shades of red, yellow, orange, gold, amber and purple. It was an unforgettable sight.

People were going crazy taking pictures before the sunset was over. Although people were moving about and getting around trying to get to the best spot for photos, I noticed that everyone was hushed. The sunset has literally taken our breath away. And at 1,400 feet, the sunset lasted much longer that it would have been on ground level. It was simply spectacular.

© Copyright, MMD Images, 2011

In perfect sync with the gorgeous sunset, the city also started to light up for the night. Fluorescent lamps, bulbs, street lights, spotlights, building lights, and vehicle lights started to illuminate the whole city and beyond. The famous Chicago skyline was starting to don its evening attire. It was an amazing transformation.

We stayed for a bit longer to enjoy the sight which was a whole world different from the daytime view we just saw more than a couple of hours ago. We were transfixed with awe. It was a perfect ending to a not-so-perfect start of our day. And then, it was time to go home. We were glad we got to do the "Skydeck experience" and to add another adventure into our stack of memories that we will remember and will surely last for a lifetime.

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.