I don't think I have ever run for a train, quite like I did last week; in a 'comedy of errors' style, I found myself running not just once, but twice for trains!
Everything seemed so planned, so simple, and had been for months. I had the ticket code saved on my phone, the day scheduled to perfection, and 2 episodes of Mrs. Maisel alongside the first episode of 'Ten Percent' downloaded to my computer. Sorted; only, best-laid plans and all that!
I left maybe one or two minutes later than planned, I found a great parking space, parked, locked the car, crossed the road, glanced back, and noticed some white patch of paint on the tarmac by my car. I peeked at my watch, still time, so I stepped back to the car and realised, I may be parked in a disabled bay. I say may because so much of it was removed I couldn't quite tell. I chose to move it. I parked, locked the car, crossed the road, and glanced at my watch. I have less than 10 minutes and a heavy case. I powerwalk it to the station, mess up the code for my ticket three times, ran up the stairs, and got on to the train with moments to spare! I'd made it. Plain sailing from now on right? Except this was a train...
Teynham, Sittingbourne, Rainham, ... "apologies for the delay, there is a problem up ahead, we will give you more information as soon as we have it"
...Gillingham "Apologies for the delay, there is a points failure at Gravesend, we may be sometime"
Tick, Tick... Minutes pass, stress rises, confusion amongst passenger, do I stay or do I go
20 minutes pass and we are back en route, shorter than I expected, maybe I can still make the connection but St Pancras to Paddington in 30 minutes is pushing it, especially as it will now be rush hour. I get to the underground platform and amazingly the train to Hammersmith is there waiting, doors open for me! Hurrah!!! Then we have three 'waiting for signal to change' moments on the circle line...
So there I am, once again, running for the train, but this time through crowds of people, up flights of stairs, I feel my blood sugar dropping and ...
"The Train from Taunton is pulling in on platform 10, can all passengers requiring the train to Reading, Swindon, Bristol Temple Meads, Weston Super Mare..... Taunton, please make their way to the platform"
I join the mass of people who have been clearly waiting for this train, thankful I've got there and forgetful that GWR host a buffet service. As I slip into the queue I divert slightly into the station shop to pick up a chocolate bar that cost a shocking £1.60 - I rejoin the group and make my way to the train.
Sadly, somewhere along the line, I lost my earbuds so there was no Maisel watching on the way west; but because of the delay I received a partial refund and new earbuds have been ordered!
After all that rush, I was able to sit back, read, get some life admin completed and take time to journal and pray - perhaps a masked blessing that I could not watch TV.
All was forgotten as we drew into Weston Super Mare (although that too was slightly rushed as there was no announcement!), and my oldest friend and Godson stood waiting for me. I had an incredible weekend with them playing crazy glow-in-the-dark golf, eating cupcakes, and seeing The Lion, the witch & the wardrobe at Bristol Hippodrome. The journey home was uneventful.
So why am I reflecting this...
Life feels a little bit like that train ride at the moment, tense, confused, rushed then waiting for seemingly way too long. My brain lingers on the negative when it finds itself here.
My hope therefore is that I can hold this in my mind as an allegory, and perhaps, if you feel the same, it will encourage you too.
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