Christ the Servant's Labyrinth and Memorial Garden
Christ The Servant's Labyrinth
"Be Still and Know that I Am God"
If you were a fly over Christ The Servant in a helicopter today you might be surprised to see a very complex pattern mown into the grass just north of the church. (See photo above!) It is our labyrinth. . .or Prayer Walk.
The Prayer Walk at Christ The Servant is an 11-circuit labyrinth 72 feet in diameter. A labyrinth differs from a maze in that there are no dead ends or false turns. It is a single path inward; the walker cannot get lost. The most famous of this type of labyrinth is at Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France. The labyrinth at Chartres was build around 1200 and is laid into the floor in a style sometimes referred to as a pavement maze. In the past it could be walked as a pilgrimage and/or for repentance. As a pilgrimage it was a questing, searching journey with the hope of becoming closer to God. When used for repentance the pilgrims would walk on their knees. Sometimes this eleven-circuit labyrinth would serve as a substitute for an actual pilgrimage to Jerusalem and as a result came to be called the "Chemin de Jerusalem" or Road of Jerusalem..
This will be our labyrinth’s 7th summer. The idea for our walk came from a publication of the ELCA that focused on a church in Texas’ labyrinth. Many churches across the country are providing similar walks for their members and neighbors.
In walking the Chartres style labyrinth the walker meanders through each of the four quadrants several times before reaching the goal. Anticipation is created as to when the center will be reached. At the center is a rosette design, which has a rich symbolic value including that of enlightenment. The four arms of the cross are readily visible and provide significant Christian symbolism.
Labyrinths require one to let go – to empty the mind, relax into the rhythm of the walk and be receptive to what thoughts arise. It is for these reasons that labyrinths are used as a tool for meditation, prayer, reflection and comfort. This type of walk is now used around the world as a stress reliever and calming part of treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Each person’s walk on the labyrinth is a unique and personal experience. Some people use the walk for clearing the mind, for meditating, for a centering experience. Others enter the labyrinth with a question or concern they want to focus on. The walk on the labyrinth is like a metaphor for a journey to our innermost self and back. It can be a tool for divine guidance. The time in the center may be used for reflection, prayer, emptying, or receiving. It may also be used for just listening to the sounds around you or wrapping yourself up in sunlight or moonlight. The journey outward may be used as a time for integrating new insights or for just enjoying the movement. Some walks will offer you profound insight and others will be just a nice walk. Each time you walk will be unique.The Prayer Walk is open 24 hours every day and all are welcome. It is on your right about half way up the drive to the church.
Come – walk – pray – be.
A Beautiful Afternoon
The temperature was about 70 degrees. Sun shining – clear skies. The breeze was blowing any mosquitoes away. What a gorgeous day: made more beautiful because I was sitting in the rose center of our labyrinth. As the breeze blew, the grass bowed down en masse. The grasses moved like waves. A pair of goldfinches performed air ballet above the path, then perched in a nearby tree. Another bird sat nearby, singing the entire time I walked the path. As I began the journey outward, I began to notice the occasional damselfly (the more elegant cousin of the dragonfly) resting on the tall grass flower stems. Grasses flower, as most plants do, and our labyrinth grasses were about to. I counted at least 6 different types of grass blooming. Some of the tiny flower buds were purple – they made me feel like I was walking a path lined for a King. I walked barefoot to feel the cool, soft path sheltered from the heat of the sun. "Be still and know that I am God." It was a beautiful experience.
Christ The Servant Memorial Garden
(click on thumbnails for larger pictures)
