Labyrinth
Norman Vincent Peale once said: ‘The Gateway to Christianity is not through an intricate labyrinth of dogma, but by a simple belief in the person of Christ.” There’s no denying, however, that every life is a journey which, as St. Augustine said, must be “solved by walking.”
You are invited to follow St. Augustine’s advice by walking on Forest Hill’s labyrinth.
In 2008, a generous memorial gift by the family of Robert W. Fuller enabled an indoor labyrinth to be installed on the floor of our newly renovated Bodwell Hall. As a permanent installation, our labyrinth is available to be walked by individuals and groups whenever the church is open.
What is a labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a metaphor for one’s own spiritual journey through life. When you walk a labyrinth, you follow a single circuitous path winding in and out in one direction. The circle it forms symbolizes wholeness and unity.
A labyrinth is not a maze. Mazes are designed to make you lose your way. Labyrinths are designed to help you find your way. A maze requires that you use your head to make choices. A labyrinth presents only one path, requiring no choices. There are no dead ends and no wrong turns, only one path which leads to the center and then back out.
A labyrinth is also a form of pilgrimage. When actual physical travel is impossible, walking a labyrinth is an easily accessible place to journey. Despite the shorter time and distance involved, it still provides time and space for listening, praying, meditating.
Part of the power of the labyrinth comes from the physical act of walking. It is the physical nature of our involvement, using our whole bodies and our senses, which is important in this form of body prayer.
How to walk a Labyrinth
There is no wrong way to walk a labyrinth, but many find it helpful to envision the walk as a threefold path:
* Journeying In: the walk to the center, quieting or emptying yourself, letting go of the details of everyday life, struggling with a life challenge.
* Resting in the Center: time spent in the center meditating, praying or simply being of open mind and heart to receive whatever gift or insight may be present.
* Journeying Out: the walk out from the center may be experienced as awareness of a deep connection or communion with God, the Holy Spirit, or with Sacred energy at work in the world. Others may feel centered, peaceful or renewed to journey back into challenges in their life and the world. (Adapted from Robert Ferre’ of Labyrinth Enterprises)
Many people also enjoy “finger labyrinths” - small wood or metal replicas of labyrinths that you trace with your finger instead of your feet. Even online labyrinths are available, such as at gratefulness.org.