Since moving to Chicago, I’ve had a lot of time alone.  There were times when I had a particular feeling.  I identified the feeling as the same sort of feeling I had when I went on prayer retreats.  At first I felt restless.  Without work, friends, church or community, I didn’t have much to do.  Even beyond that, I felt stripped of my identity and value.  People here don’t know who I am.  They know me as Will’s wife.  I cringed inside when people asked me what I do.  Unemployed, I’d respond.

But I have come to savor this time.  God knows me so well.  I’m grateful to have had this time to pray, reflect, think and be alone.  I’ve been able to get my feet planted in the city, discover places around town and I’ve come to really love this place already.  I don’t think I would’ve had that if I started work immediately.

I’m also more comfortable with being unemployed.  My identity is not in the work I do, but in who I am.  Being away from everything, everyone and expectations has brought about a refreshing freedom to figure out who I really am.