Race to London

It’s first light on a brisk fall morning. Matt and I move quickly to take down the tent, pack up camp, and strap the equipment back onto our steel-framed bicycles. This routine has become like clockwork for us as we’ve been cycling consistently for the last three weeks after leaving the west coast of Ireland. Our camping site is located on a patch of muddy grass beside a famous man-made river called The English Canal.

The canal to my left doesn’t have a current and its water’s calm. It runs under an old cement bridge that’s covered in moss. As I mount my bicycle, I’m wide awake as I face the daunting task set before me. Matt and I are just 120 kilometers away from the City of London and this evening we’re expected to meet our friend, Johnny Richards, at Tower Bridge. It’s not an impossible task, but the odds are against us. For the last four days Matt and I have been riding without any finances. We’ve been surviving on snacks and expired chocolate bars. Our bodies are under extreme stress and we’re getting very tired. However, mentally and spiritually we’re completely sound. Matt and I even enjoy the ride as we follow the very adventurous number 4 National Cycle Route across the United Kingdom. We’re not worried because we have great faith in God. We’ve ridden without money before and we’ve seen God provide. We’ve also seen God do the impossible to send us across the Atlantic Ocean. The Race to London may look like an impossible task, but nothing is impossible with God. Just like in the past, God will do the miraculous; He will do the impossible. We’re confident that God will provide for us, and get us to London in time to see Johnny.

The sky above is a thick overcast and for most of the morning Matt and I cycle through fog and mist. It’s eerily quiet during the ride as the number four takes us down many back roads through farm fields. Thankfully the road is paved and fairly flat, allowing us to tackle the kilometers with minimal effort. Unfortunately, Matt’s body begins to crash after the first hour of cycling. He stops riding and sits down on the wet ground with his head between his knees. I quickly detach the food bag from my bicycle and search through its contents.

“Are you okay?” I ask him with concern.

“I feel lightheaded,” he responds without looking at me.

“You need sugar,” I reply. “You haven’t eaten anything today.”

I pass him our last expired chocolate bar. After only a few bites Matt starts to feel better. He lifts up his head and the color comes back to his face. Now I dig into the bag and find some fuel for myself. A slice of bread with some savory jam. As I eat my dismal breakfast, I watch the road with expectation.

Maybe God will get us to London by car? I think to myself.

I can imagine a farmer driving down the road in his truck and offering us a ride into the city. It was so easy for God to turn our situation around. I simply had to persevere until He showed up. I continue to look down the road until Matt’s recovered. Sadly, no vehicle drives past. We mount our bicycles and continue on.

We ride throughout the afternoon and the National Cycle Route takes us to a trail that follows the English Canal. This path is very rugged and composed of hard compact dirt. As Matt and I cycle, our tires sink into the soft ground. We fight for each kilometer, pushing hard on the pedals and kicking up dirt. I enjoy the adventure and take in the scenic views. There are many waterside trees, oaks, and willows that occupy the far side of the canal. Intermittently, this dense treeline will open up to display some of England’s most beautiful terrain. Seemingly endless hills covered by rich green grass. On the water, there are many strange boats that look like fancy limousines. These narrowboats are docked all along the riverbank and occasionally float past us down the canal. I can’t help but think to myself,

Maybe God will provide us with a boat ride into London?

I can imagine a small group of people calling out to us. They’re vacationing on their narrowboat and invite us onboard to join the party. We’d arrive in London with style, eating and laughing with our new friends. Just then my thoughts are interrupted when my nose begins to bleed. I stop riding and urgently rummage through my front bag to find a tissue.

“Again?” Matt says with concern.

“I know,” I respond. “This is the fourth time this week.”

“We’ll have to stop riding soon and give your body a long rest,” Matt insists.

“There will be plenty of time to rest when we get to London,” I assure him. “By tonight we’ll be in a hotel room and eating pizza with Johnny.”

Matt and I are both comforted by this thought. Surely, our miracle of provision was just around the corner. Unfortunately, no boat stops for us so we continue to cycle.

It’s finally dusk when we arrive in the town of Reading, England. Matt and I are completely exhausted and we’re still 60 kilometers away from our final destination. Matt navigates us to a McDonald’s with free WIFI. It’s difficult not to feel disgruntled, watching people eat hamburgers while visiting with their friends. I distract myself by contemplating how God might save the day. We were supposed to be meeting Johnny in a few hours. God would have to provide us with a fast mode of transportation to get us there in time. Suddenly, I know the perfect solution.

“Is there a train station in town?” I ask curiously.

Matt opens up the internet on his phone. Not only is there a station, but a train ride could take us all the way to Tower Bridge within the hour. It’s the miracle that we’ve been waiting for! Matt eagerly opens up our bank account and checks for divine provision, but a moment later his face drops.

“I’m sorry Amy, but our bank account still reads zero,” Matt says with disappointment.

In faith I check our emails for divine provision. Unfortunately, no money has come in through this method either. I’m only confused for a moment before I rationalise a solution.

“All we need is two train tickets into London,” I reason with Matt. “So let’s go to the train station and trust that God will provide.”

In one final act of faith, Matt and I walk our bicycles to the train station. First, we pray fervently for two train tickets. Then like a game, we walk around the terminal trying to find our miracle. Matt makes an attempt to buy the tickets at the counter. When that doesn’t work, I ask the receptionist if there are tickets on reserve for the Suderman’s. That doesn’t work either. So we look for our tickets in the bathroom stalls, on the tables, in the garbage, and on the floor. Nothing works. At this point, Matt and I are getting irritated and confused. We stop searching and sit down for dinner. Our food bag is nearly empty. Matt eats a slice of bread and the last of the Nutella. I eat two slices of bread and dress it with mayonnaise. Now the food is completely gone. The reality of my situation is starting to sink in. I’m in the middle of a random city, with no food, no resources, and no one to help. Jesus wasn’t coming to my rescue. There was no miracle that was going to get me out of this mess. Fear sinks into my heart and I fight the urge to panic. What were we going to do?

It’s very dark outside so we walk our bicycles to the only place that’s familiar. We go back to the English Canal. The trail leads us to a small field with a willow tree planted next to the water. We begin to set up our tent underneath its drooping branches. Suddenly, a loud screeching sound fills my ears. A train races past us with great speed and power. I’m filled with resentment at the sight. I should be on that train right now, not standing in the dark on this cold wet field. I should be in a hotel room eating pizza with Johnny, not sleeping on the ground with nothing but a slice of bread for dinner. It just wasn’t fair!

“I don’t know what we’re going to do Amy,” Matt says despairingly. “At this rate, we might not see Johnny at all!”

Matt’s eyes fill with tears at the thought. He quickly turns his face from me. It’s too late, my eyes are tearing up too. In the tent, I lie down on my side and curl my knees into my chest. My heart feels like it’s being crushed. It aches inside of me with a deep anguish. For the first time, I’ve jumped out in faith and God has failed to catch me. It’s one of my favourite games to play with Father, but now I’m laying on the ground broken and hurt. My trust in Him is damaged and insecure. I cry myself to sleep that night as the trains rush past our tent.

Why Papa? Why didn’t you catch me?

As I sleep, I dream unfolds before my eyes:

My mom comes up to me and says goodbye. Then she turns around and leaves me. My mom’s sudden departure makes me feel unsatisfied and deprived in my heart. Now I’m on a school bus. I’m waiting for it to take me somewhere. However, the bus stays parked for a long time. It evens starts to back up at one point. Unable to wait any longer, I decide to get off the school bus to go find my mom. When I get off, the bus leaves without me! I’m stranded for a moment, but then another parent pulls up beside me with their car. They give me a ride and I catch up to the school bus.

When I wake up the following morning, it’s bright outside the tent. I can hear the swans calling out to one another as they float along the canal. The dream about my mom is buzzing at the forefront of my mind. I can tell that this dream is from God, even now His presence lingers. I forget about the dream when I feel hungry. It reminds me of last night’s pain, so I get up and start packing our bags. Matt’s also very hungry, tired, and discouraged. However, he continues to speak to me with kindness as he leads us back onto the cycle path. We try riding our bicycles, but our bodies struggle with the task. All our energy and strength is gone. For a long time we persevere through England’s backcountry. We push our bicycles up the hills and then coast down the descent. All day I look for God’s provision. I pray and wait expectantly for Him. However, the exact opposite seems to happen. Instead, it’s like Matt and I are completely invisible to the world. Not a single person sees our need. No one stops to help.

Our persistence eventually leads us to a small town called Maidenhead. We’re still 35 kilometers away from London, but at this point I’m simply relieved to have safely arrived in a town. We’re desperate for food and I begin to imagine how God will provide for us.

Perhaps there’s a local church having a free BBQ? Or maybe there’s a community center that’s hosting an event?

Just then, a voice speaks to me from within.

Are you going to run all over town seeking food? Or are you going to stop and seek Me?

I’m conflicted by the choice. Obviously the right decision is to spend time with God, but…food…

“Are you coming?!” Matt asks me with frustration.

The crosswalk in front of me has turned green and Matt’s already halfway across the busy street. When I come to my senses, I run to catch up.

“Matt, I feel like we have to make a choice,” I tell him as I catch my breath. “We can either spend our evening looking for food, or we can accept our fate and spend the evening with God.”

It’s a tough decision, but eventually we make our choice. We concede to God’s suggestion and walk ourselves over to a nearby cafe. Matt and I are still invisible to the world, but this time it works in our favour as the staff don’t notice us when we sit down without making a purchase. We take out our bibles, put in our earphones, and start listening to worship music. At first, I can’t seem to focus because my body keeps distracting me. I feel hungry and cold. However, I’m patient with myself and continue to press in. After many songs, I’m finally able to worship from the heart and connect with God. His grace covers me like a shield and I no longer feel hungry. I’m filled with love, joy, and peace as I remember all of the promises and wonderful deeds that He has done for me. God feels so close now, but I still want more. I ask Him to come closer. Suddenly a majestic lion stands before me in my mind’s eye. It’s my Lord, the Lion of Judah, the Prince of Peace. He’s so close to me that our faces are almost touching. His mane is thick and the colour of auburn. His eyes are green and filled with a fiery passion. My heart swells at the sight of Him. I’m so madly in love with Jesus. However, my love quickly turns to sorrow. I fall to my knees and begin to weep at the lion’s feet. I extend my hands out and reveal to Him my broken and damaged heart. Without using words, I recall all of the hardships that I’d endured over the last forty-eight hours. All of the stress, confusion, despair, and disappointment.

Why? I cry out desperately. I had so much faith in you and I didn’t doubt. Why didn’t you help us get to London? Why didn’t you feed us?

The lion’s eyes look sad for a moment. Then He responds to my questions with one of His own.

What did I say?

A little taken aback, I hastily search through my memory to answer Him. I recall all that I can remember from our journey across Ireland, Wales, and England, only to come to a grim conclusion. God never said that we were going to see Johnny, and He didn’t speak any instructions that we should go to London. I had absolutely no promises from God to stand on concerning this direction that I had taken in my life.

What have I been putting my faith in this whole time? I think to myself. Why was I so confident?

Don’t put your faith in faith.

All this time, I had been so confident in the fact that I had great faith in God, that I was convinced that my faith in itself would bring forth miracles. I was putting my faith in the belief that “faith can move mountains” (Mark 11:23). This statement is biblical, but I was missing one key part of the equation. Faith only has the power to move mountains when it lines up with the will of God. Faith in itself didn’t hold much power. True power comes from God’s spoken word. His voice has the power to calm the wind and the waves (Mark 4:39) and when He speaks it does not return to Him empty, but accomplishes the purpose in which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11). Therefore faith is powerful and moves mountains when it stands on God’s spoken word and promises. At the end of the day, miracles didn’t follow Amy’s will; they followed God’s will. I’d been so absorbed with pursuing my own dream of seeing Johnny, that I hadn’t taken the time in Ireland to wait on God and discover His heart and purposes for this stage of the bike trip. Back in Ireland, I secretly doubted that God would give us a true direction. I was afraid that He might deny my desires. I was even worried that waiting too long to hear from God would burden the people hosting us. In the end, my fears and anxieties caused me to leave for London prematurely, before God’s will for the situation was unveiled. I had started traveling without God’s spoken word, guidance, and power over my life. That was an important thing to forget all the way back in Ireland! All this time while travelling to London, I had been running ahead of God, seeking my own heart’s desire and expecting God to bless my path. However, what I should have done was trust in God’s perfect timing and wait in Ireland until God spoke His direction. Then His promises would have gone out before me, and when I jumped out in faith, God would have caught me.

This time, put your faith in what I say.

I suddenly remember that God spoke to me last night in a dream. However, I had yet to discern its message. Dreams are often like night parables. God uses symbolism to speak to the dreamer. I take out a paper napkin from the cafe’s dispenser and begin to write out the main points of the dream. Then I pray to discern their meaning.

My mom = nurture (a mom feeds her children)
My mom’s quick goodbye = I’m lacking in nurture
The school bus = The Narrow Shoulder (it’s like we’re on a field trip; learning outside the classroom)
Getting off the school bus to find my mom = Matt and I stop cycling to find food.
I miss the school bus = We fall behind schedule
Another parent with a car = a parent; or someone spiritually mature
They give us a ride = that person helps us on our journey
I catch up to the school bus = we don’t fall behind

I receive this overall message from the dream,

I know that you’re lacking in nurture right now, and you’ll have to stop cycling in order to meet your need. But don’t worry, I’m sending someone to help you. I won’t let you fall behind.

This is a beautiful promise from God. However, I’m still missing some crucial information. I still don’t know God’s intended destination for this journey. There’s no promise that God will take us to London, or that we’ll see Johnny. However, I know that God is challenging me to put my faith in His spoken word. I simply had to embrace God’s promise, and put aside my own dreams of seeing Johnny.

I give a great sigh. The thought of putting my faith in this dream makes me feel weary. The memory of last night’s pain is still so fresh in my mind. I fear more disappointment and another broken heart, so I’m not sure if I’m ready to jump out in faith. Despite all my fear and doubt, I can feel God gently nudging at me to trust Him. He’s like a dad standing at the bottom of a diving board where His strong arms are open wide.

Trust Me, He says.

I take a deep breath, look into His eyes, and jump.

The following morning, Matt and I crawl into River Church for their Sunday morning service. We meet a middle-aged, married couple named Andrew and Mavis. When they hear about our travels they invite us over for lunch. Matt and I are well cared for by this family. They feed us and let us relax in their home for the night. Andrew and Mavis are also very mature in their faith, as they’ve spent many years living in Turkey and Nepal as missionaries. When Matt and I share our hardships from the last week, they’re able to encourage us and give us wisdom for the journey ahead.

I’m going to send a parent to help you.

The next day, Matt and I wake up feeling refreshed. We look over the map as we eat breakfast at the table. Unfortunately, Matt and I don’t have any new insights about the direction that we should be heading. Either way, we decide to prepare our bicycles for another ride. It’s cold this morning with rain showers. Andrew and Mavis stand at the front door of their house wearing thick wool sweaters.

“You two have guts; I’ll give you that much,” Andrew comments as he folds his arms across his chest.

Before we leave, Mavis reaches out to shake my hand. As I meet her grasp, I can feel a folded piece of paper in her hand.

“Take this for the road,” Mavis insists. She leaves me with twenty pounds.

Matt and I express our gratitude and cycle off towards London. We’re only 35 kilometers away from the city central. There’s a lingering hope that if we cycle all day, Matt and I might be able to see Johnny before he returns to Canada in two days. Matt’s strength has returned and he cycles at a quick pace. I try to keep up with him, but after a while I fall behind. My body still hasn’t recovered. Once again, I’m reminded to trust God’s promise and to give up my dream of seeing Johnny.

“I’m sorry Matt, but I don’t think I can ride much further.”

We stop riding and Matt looks for a place where I can rest. To our surprise, we’ve made it within London’s perimeter. The closest cafe happens to be inside the Heathrow airport. As we approach its borders, I have an idea as we cycle past some dense brush.

“Maybe we should hide our bicycles in these bushes?” I inquire. “Our bicycles might be safer from theft if we lock them up here rather than outside the airport.”

When no one’s looking, Matt and I charge our bicycles into the dense foliage. Then we lock and hide the bicycles before making our way on foot. The change makes me feel happy and excited. I can’t help but skip and bounce around as I we walk towards the terminal.

“I feel so free without my bicycle!” I say to Matt. “It makes me want to explore the city!”

Matt widens his eyes at my comment.

“Amy, we have twenty pounds now!” Matt exclaims. “We might be able to take a bus into London!”

At first, I don’t share Matt’s excitement. I’ve given up my dream of seeing Johnny and I’m afraid to make another attempt at London. Before I can voice my concerns however, Matt takes my hand and starts running towards the airport terminal. His excitement is contagious and I let him lead.

The airport is bustling with people and at first the atmosphere is overwhelming. We quickly walk through the large hallways until we come across an information centre. A young man named Harry is working at the front desk.

“We have exactly 20 pounds,” Matt explains. “Can you get us to Tower Bridge?”

The man is completely baffled by our request.

“A one way trip?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Do you have an oyster card?”

“What’s that?”

He shakes his head at our ignorance.

While Harry searches through the Transport for London pamphlet, Matt and I send a message to Johnny.

Johnny! We might have found a way to get to you! But we’ll be arriving with no funds, no tent, and no bicycles. Can you help us find a place to stay?

There’s a moment of high anticipation as we wait for the responses from both Johnny and Harry. Their answers will determine our future. Johnny is the first to give us a response.

Nice! If you can get here, then I’ll take care of the rest.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude. Johnny’s such an awesome friend!

A moment later, Harry gives us his response.

“Two one-way tickets to Tower Bridge will cost 16 pounds. Does that work for you?”

“YES!!!” Matt and I exclaim. “We’ll take it!”

Matt and I hand over the twenty pounds and in return Harry gives us two tickets to London. For a moment we have to withhold shouts of joy. It’s like Harry is giving us two winning lottery tickets. In no time at all, Matt and I are on the Underground Railway. It’s an incredibly fast train system that travels through London using underground tunnels. Matt and I are too excited to sit down. We stand on the train wearing huge smiles as it carries us towards our destination. The same distance that would’ve taken us another day’s ride was being overcome within a matter of minutes. I can see God’s promise being fulfilled before my very eyes.

Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall behind.

The sky is dark when we get off the train, but the city is bright with lights. Matt and I can’t believe our eyes. We walk through the bustling city in a dreamlike state as we pass by magnificent white buildings and red double-decker buses. As we walk over the famous Tower Bridge, Matt and I spot the person that we’ve been longing to see. It’s Johnny! He greets us with a huge smile and big hugs. It’s the best, most satisfying reunion. The following morning, Matt, Johnny, and I get to spend the entire day together. We walk through Hyde Park, explore Buckingham Palace, and visit Alpha’s Holy Trinity Church. In the evening, we get to go rock climbing and then celebrate afterwards with a huge, extra large pizza. Johnny even pays for us to stay at a hotel for the night. The day is absolutely perfect. It’s everything that I dreamed it would be and so much more. Arriving in London and spending the day with Johnny was a gift from God. I can see now that it was always in God’s heart for us to see Johnny. However, I ended up falling short in my endeavors when I was chasing the dream in my own strength and timeline. I’ve learned that the secret to an abundant life is never to pursue the dream itself, but to pursue The Dream Giver. So often when I do, I receive the desires of my heart.