When I mention LABYRINTH to my friends, they either think of a David Bowie film I've never seen or of a maze. Mazes give me panic attacks. I took a small child into one and thought we'd never make it out again. The child was having a great time in her illusion of safety as she held on to my hand!
When I speak of labyrinths, I am talking of the ancient spiritual practice of simulating a pilgrimage in a path laid out over a garden green or quiet yard.
Walking 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.
In May of last year I made the trip back to my home state of Indiana, back to the camp of my childhood and joined in with the present staff for a Summer of investing in young people and volunteers. At the beginning of the summer, the camp director allowed me to take the staff, aged from 19 to 40+, to a nearby labyrinth and use it as a prayerful focal point of our journey together.
By the end of the summer we had laid out and mostly completed
our own labyrinth at Rainbow Christian Camp, so we were able to debrief the summer there. The following were my instructions to the staff as they walked:
NOTE: Please walk the Labyrinth twice; once processing your ministry here this summer and again to just focus on your own personal journey & what God is doing as you go from this place. Use the following questions, quotes & Scriptures to help you think below the surface, to reflect and to walk away with something of value.
As you walk into the labyrinth the first time today, think through what you brought to the summer. Stop and sit if you want, so as to give more time to consider.
Each of us began the summer with our own bundle of expectations, hopes, struggles and fears. What were some of yours?
When you get to the two trees and are about to step through them, consider any breakthrough moments of the last few months.
When did you realize something?
When did you notice God?
When did something change for you?
What Scripture has God given you this Summer to speak more clearly or more loudly than before?
What person has He brought across your path to challenge, frustrate or grow you?
When did you find yourself most at peace with God?
When did you worship freely?
When I speak of labyrinths, I am talking of the ancient spiritual practice of simulating a pilgrimage in a path laid out over a garden green or quiet yard.
Walking 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.
In May of last year I made the trip back to my home state of Indiana, back to the camp of my childhood and joined in with the present staff for a Summer of investing in young people and volunteers. At the beginning of the summer, the camp director allowed me to take the staff, aged from 19 to 40+, to a nearby labyrinth and use it as a prayerful focal point of our journey together.
By the end of the summer we had laid out and mostly completed
our own labyrinth at Rainbow Christian Camp, so we were able to debrief the summer there. The following were my instructions to the staff as they walked:NOTE: Please walk the Labyrinth twice; once processing your ministry here this summer and again to just focus on your own personal journey & what God is doing as you go from this place. Use the following questions, quotes & Scriptures to help you think below the surface, to reflect and to walk away with something of value.
- If you would like to create a playlist on your iPod or meditate using a particular song, do so as part of your journey.
- If you would like to take something in to the labyrinth with you, and leave it there, do so. Do not worry about where the object will end up.
- If you’d like to create something, preparation can be made for you to do that.
- Please bring a Bible and possibly a journal, or other spiritual readings that help you connect.
As you walk into the labyrinth the first time today, think through what you brought to the summer. Stop and sit if you want, so as to give more time to consider.
Each of us began the summer with our own bundle of expectations, hopes, struggles and fears. What were some of yours?
When you get to the two trees and are about to step through them, consider any breakthrough moments of the last few months.
When did you realize something?
When did you notice God?
When did something change for you?
What Scripture has God given you this Summer to speak more clearly or more loudly than before?
What person has He brought across your path to challenge, frustrate or grow you?
When did you find yourself most at peace with God?
When did you worship freely?
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Gandhi
Gandhi
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