Why the Queue I Almost Didn’t Do Was the Best Line in London

Woman smiling holding Weetabix cereal box — Proceessing providence, love, and London linwa with help from Weetabix.

I believe that God orchestrates the events of our lives–both big and small. I believe he is involved in every single detail.

In other words, I trust the providence of our wise, loving Lord.. No purpose of his can be thwarted (Job 42:2). Jesus taught that the very hairs of our head are numbered (Luke 12:7) and Isaiah said that God places each star in the sky and calls them all by name (Isaiah 40:26). I believe God rules all things.

My time in Hyde Park proved it.

After four days in London, I had barely scratched the surface. I had prioritized and planned each day’s trips beforehand.

With the exception of that Sunday afternoon.

Providence at Hyde Park

With the exception of one Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning was planned. It was a delightful worship service at Christ Church, Wandsworth with my friends Doug and Rachel. After a sermon on Paul’s partnerships and Romans 16 and this song I’d like to import, we all gathered for a cuppa tea, or coffee..

I chatted with a charming Scotch artist named Ali who surprised me with his take on Vincent van Gogh. From his wife Anna, I learned that speech therapists in Britian are employed not by the schools, but by the NHS.

But it was after this photo was taken that I hesitantly and unresolvedly parted paths with Doug and Rachel.

I set out on an adventure I was quite unsure of and had not fully planned.

Harrods’—only because of Mr. Bean‘s antics—and a stroll through Hyde Park with its huge Serpentine lake were on my “if time allows” London list.

Hyde Park intrigued me because of its Speakers’ Corner, an iconic spot where “radicals and revolutionaries from Karl Marx to George Orwell have come to have their say.”

But Hyde Park was not top priority. It was not high on my list, in contrast to Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and John Newton’s church.

Harrods and Hyde Park were second tier, only if time allowed.

If God allowed.

God Allowed

Straight from church with my backpack, almonds, and map I set out.

Harrods department store was posh, luxurious, and overwhelming. I didn’t make it past the books and stationery in the basement.

Then to Hyde Park. Google maps and my handy-dandy Citymapper app said it was close. Within 15 minutes, I was in. I strolled beside the Serpentine admiring the British picnickers. Londoners know how to picnic.

In a few minutes, I found myself and my path bordered by a makeshift metal wall with BST signs at intervals along the way. BST is “British Summer Time”—a concert series.

That’s when I heard the music.

I don’t know much about K-pop, Korean pop music, except that it’s lightish, and smooth and that my older son loves it.

At this point when I actually got off the path to turn back.

Because walking beside a tall metal wall, listening to K-Pop, was not why I came to London.

Or was it?

I studied the map. Speakers’ Corner was 0.2 miles ahead.

Five minutes later, I found myself before a massive field of (picnicking) fans. Tucked at the edge of the crumpled grass, I spied a little tent— a little black-roofed, Stray Kids merch tent.

That’s when I did an unexpected thing.

I deviated from my plans. I got off the mapped path to get in line with a bunch of decked out Stray Kids fans in front of the merch tent.

Why?

I’m like you. I don’t relish waiting in line. I especially don’t like waiting in lines for things I’m not sure I want, to buy gifts that may not be appreciated.

So why?

I have a son who really likes K-Pop. And I love that son, even when we don’t see eye to eye and the relationship strains.

I stood in line because the love of Christ controlled me.

I wasn’t sure if my son knew the group, much less liked them.

But I waited in the mid-afternoon, mid-July heat until I bought a large black Stray Kids shirt. I tucked it in my backpack, then headed to Speakers’ Corner.

I can’t give the Corner its own post. But these photos will give a flavor.

Kudos to the Brits for preserving this safe place for free speech.

I’ll spare the drama about my dangerously dwindling phone charge and my adventure in the London Underground on a carriage alone with a sinisterly smiling man. So you know, the Tube is not guided by Wisconsin friendly. Smiling at strangers is simply not done.

Suffice to say, I breathed a huge sigh of relief (and did not look up or smile) when the smiling man got off two stops before mine, at Tooting Bec (yes).

Why It Was the Best Line in London

Three days later, I presented my son with the Stray Kids shirt. I hope I never forget his face.

There was wonder in those dark eyes. And if I’m not mistaken, for a fleeting second, a teeny bit of felt-love misted up those eyes.

God‘s invisible hand guided me there.

I almost didn’t go. Harrods and Hyde Park were not high priorities.

But God led an ambivalent me into Hyde Park, beside that long metal wall leading to Speakers’ Corner. But not really to that Corner.

Really, I think God was leading me to that merch tent that was only found in Hyde park on that Sunday, July 14th, 2024.

I think God who is love led me that way because he had picked that route—the route I did not plan—for me.

Father knows better the best way to love.

That Sunday in London love led me.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”