Originally published 8/18/16
We are living in the clutches of God, on Jesus lane. Literally.
This is the street we're staying on, across the street from Jesus College.
It's rather comforting, after the day, the week, the months, the last years we've had. On Wednesday morning, we drove 8 hours to the Charlotte airport, flew 9 hours to London, and took a train 2 hours to Cambridge, and a fast taxi to Jesus Lane. When we left Sewanee we had no idea what we were going to do when we landed in London, nor once we unpacked in the lodge on Jesus Lane. We had no British money, no international calling, no directions to the train, and no idea where Jesus Lane was.
But look. Here we are.
That's us, with the Cam in the background. It's a river.
This place - England, that is - is cartoonish. Or fairy tale-ish. As we looked for our train, I was looking the the 1/2 station that Harry Potter took to get to Hogwarts. I mean, that's what King's Cross station looks like.
English people are very nice. Michael enjoys engaging a service person, so we talk with one anytime he can, but we still had to wander around looking for the right train, and check the boards several times.
The architectural detail at King's Cross station was cool; especially since everyone has to look up to see where their train is.
As we pummeled across the British countryside in the fast train, the soundtrack in my mind turned to Mary Poppins. Chim-chimminy, chim-chimminy, chim chim, chir-eee. I mean, London, and even into the suburbs looks exactly like a set of Mary Poppins.
Dark brick, gabled windows and chimneys top row after row after row of homes.
A chatty cab driver was in the cue at the train station, and asked us about Donald Trump only because we asked him about Brexit. He wants to come to Charleston to meet girls, by the way. He voted for Brexit, but he's not racist, he was sure to add, and seemed surprised that we would not support Donald Trump. Our patisserie barista (thank you, God, for coffee and cake) asked us about Trump as well; he's quite embarrassing, I told her, and she shook her head and asked what would we do if he got elected. One day in, and it's clear Trump is the talk of GB, too.
Anyhow, we're here, and have already walked the Cam - a narrow man-made river down which we will punt later - and had fish and chips.
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7
I definitely lived by faith today. I am by nature a planner, and tend to spend more time calendaring tomorrow than I do living today. But Michael is best living in the moment. He, in fact, slows down at times like these. He literally moves in slow motion, and seeks out as many service people as he can to help us on our way. I want to charge ahead, impatiently, so we can get on with it. And, I want to know what we're going to do when we get there, how we'll do it, and what we'll eat after we do it. I slowed my roll as we rolled into Cambridge today, just fine. I can make an international call, and login to my email using the wifi, and we've discovered the grocery store and determined which credit cards speak British. Today, I read signs and Michael asked questions, and together we put our trust in God, and each other's strengths, and arrived at Wescott House.
Now, I have done some planning for tomorrow, (there are a lot of things to see here, after all, before I have to report to work mid-afternoon) but I told Michael we'll start the day, and just see where it goes. After all, can Jesus Lane really lead you in the wrong direction?
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