After arriving in England, I learn that a former boarder of ours has moved to London from Hong Kong. Toby lived with us for his final year at Portland Christian High School. He moved with us from one address to another as 2015 turned to 2016.

Plans are to meet in London on May 28th–last Wednesday. Kat orders train tickets for her and me to travel coach class. We choose a restaurant for lunch where we plan to meet Toby.

Then on Monday, the first change of plans.

Rick decides to come along. Not only does another ticket have to be purchased; but to accommodate Rick in his wheel chair, first class tickets are purchased.

On Wednesday, we enter the terminal and we learn that nearly all departures have been cancelled due to faulty signalling. Should we go with the travel option offered by the train company, or should we wait to see if the trouble would be repaired by the time of our scheduled departure?

We wait. Glory be! Our train is not delayed! The new plan remains intact!

We board, and for the first time I learn the advantages of “first class.”

The first class waiting area has comfortable seating and “free” beverages and snacks. Train attendants take us early to the correct platform. They set a ramp in place for Rick’s wheel chair. Our seats are next to the door. We have barely begun our trip, when the beverages are served and the orders are taken for brunch. Food and drink seem to be free–as long as we don’t think about the ticket price.

Riding on a “bullet train” that reaches up to 124 miles an hour, we arrive in London on time.

We head off toward Rosa’s Thai Restaurant. Oh no! It’s not in the depot as the Google map indicated. It’s a five block walk AND a change of plans.

But as we approach it, there’s Toby. We haven’t seen each other for nine years. So, we meet and greet and enter the restaurant. This part of the plan does not change. The food is varied and delicious and the table talk enlightening.

We discovered that Rick and Toby share three parallels. They each have lived and worked in London while in their 20’s. Their paternal grandmothers were very important to their formative years. They both possess more technological/computer knowledge than most people have.

As planned, we leave the restaurant before two.

However the next part of the plan changes a lot. Visiting the Charles Dickens Museum (only a 17 minute walk) had been on the docket since April. However, Kat would be unable to walk that distance, and taking a bus would not allow for Rick’s wheelchair.

They decide to call an Uber or a taxi. So, while they waited outside Rosa’s, Toby and I walk to the museum, talking all the way. We continue talking even after arriving at the museum but do not go in.

I get a text from Kat. They have not been able to secure transportation; so, they decide to hang out at the King’s Cross Train Station. Already it nears three; the return train leaves at 5:30; the museum closes at four. Toby needs to talk. And I think, This is what it’s about—time with Toby not time in the museum.

At my core I know that the Holy Spirit had administered the wisdom of Matthew 6:34. “Don’t worry about tomorrow (or even the next moment). Tomorrow (and the next minute) will worry about itself. It has enough trouble (and happiness) of its own.”