Today we set up a 45 foot canvas labyrinth in our sanctuary. The sanctuary is open the first Tuesday of every month for walking the labyrinth. During Advent the labyrinth was out once per week. During the hustle and bustle of the Advent season, I didn't find the time to walk, though I knew I needed to.
So this afternoon, when all was quiet, I went into the sanctuary, removed my shoes and began to center myself. I hadn't walked a labyrinth in years and so it was refreshing as I began my walk. As I walked, I pondered the following quote:
"Let nothing disturb you. Nothing dismay you. All things pass. But God never changes. Whoever has God lacks nothing. If you only have God, you have more than enough." -Teresa of Avila
On the journey inward, I prayed. I cried out to God offering all of the things that have been holding me back. When I made it to the center, I stood looking at the cross and remembered the many reasons I believe. After spending time in the center, I began my outward journey. On the outward journey I just listened for God to speak and God did speak through the quiet.I share this experience with you because I want to encourage anyone who can make it to the next labyrinth walk in February to do so. If you have never walked a labyrinth and are wondering what it might be like, here are some thoughts:
"Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path... exactly where you are meant to be right now... And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love."
Caroline Adams
We are all on the path... exactly where we need to be. The labyrinth is a model of that path.
A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.
A labyrinth is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience. We can walk it. It is a metaphor for life's journey. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place and takes us out of our ego to "That Which Is Within."
Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. When most people hear of a labyrinth they think of a maze. A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind alleys. It is a left brain task that requires logical, sequential, analytical activity to find the correct path into the maze and out.
A labyrinth has only one path. It is unicursal. The way in is the way out. There are no blind alleys. The path leads you on a circuitous path to the center and out again.
A labyrinth is a right brain task. It involves intuition, creativity, and imagery. With a maze many choices must be made and an active mind is needed to solve the problem of finding the center. With a labyrinth there is only one choice to be made. The choice is to enter or not. A more passive, receptive mindset is needed. The choice is whether or not to walk a spiritual path.
At its most basic level the labyrinth is a metaphor for the journey to the center of your deepest self and back out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are.
Labyrinth thoughts taken from: http://www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm
1 comments:
Sara--
I am delighted to meet you through Tony Cartledge's blog. Thank God you had the courage to answer God's call dispite the sordid attempts of men to keep you out!
You spell you name the same as my daughter's. She is beautiful and lively an manages the Bed, Bath, and Beyond store in Rocky Mount. You would both have much in common, except she is the mother of 4 active boys, ages 5-12. She would trade places with you right now!
Have you heard of the labyrinth at Valle Crucis Mission School near Boon, NC? It is a natural bush one and they have periodic conferences centered on it and meditation. They should be found in a google search.
It is an ideal location for youth retreats involving skiing since Sugar Mountain and about 4 other slopes are nearby. It was originally a Mission School to the Indians dating to the early 1800's.
They also offer use of their farm house to clergy and families at a rediculously low price. Should you want to go with some friends (it accomodates about 20) during the week, they likely have openings now. When I took a small youth group, we used it as opposed to the 60 housing size of the main building.
Interestingly, they had a historic Episcopal Monk who served there in the early days. His memorial and story are found in the Chapel. It is a great place to get in touch with self and God.
God's blessing in your ministry. We have a new lady minister here at Bath (NC) UMC. She is solving problems which have plagued the congregation in this small historic town. Bath was the first town in NC and has the oldest church in the state, St. Thomas Episcopal.
Come on down when you get a break!
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