You Can’t Plan Friends

Most people begin a bike ride by riding a bike.

So today we begin Wisconsin Hope Tour with two speaking engagements. Bikes will have to wait until Thursday, unless we sneak in an early morning ride today.

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Yesterday we remembered the balance we need between planning and trusting. When we did our first ride I figured we’d plan everything a few weeks in advance. Routes, hotels, rest stops—I had it all worked out.

It worked really well, too—until the first day. We realized immediately that planning the logistics in advance just wasn’t practical. I recalled the words of wisdom offered by Pastor Mark Orphan as we pulled out of town:

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.

He assured me it’s in the bible. Pastors don’t joke about stuff like that, right?

Anyway, we learned quickly that we had to trust that some things would work out without advance planning. We decided this was God’s thing, and we’d let Him help.

So we plan what we can because God wants us to do our part. And we work at letting go of what we can’t plan.

Yesterday we rolled into Madison with no idea where we’d stay. We chose a hotel in a likely location, and Becky asked for the manager. We made a new friend named Karen.

Madison’s busy this week. A college football game, a big triathlon, and one expo we’re aware of. Karen listened to our story, shuffled some stuff, and arranged a room for us (for four nights) at a very friendly rate. Parking for the trailer? No problem—orange cones to block off a special spot.

Some might see an everyday chain hotel. People come and go, check in, check out, and scarcely notice the human beings cleaning and handing them the keys.

Karen wasn’t a nameless face, and we weren’t ordinary customers passing through her hotel. She listened. She stopped and took time from her busy day to help, to be kind when she didn’t need to.

It’s the sort of thing you can’t plan. I’m grateful.

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