Week 1 Advent Labyrinth-- Hope

I had "hoped" to get to the labyrinth sooner in this first week of Advent, but it didn't happen until yesterday. I could have followed my suggestions and done a finger labyrinth, but I didn't.

I went to the labyrinth at Burks UMC yesterday morning. It was chilly and cloudy when I visited. 

As I began the journey in, I reflected on the word "hope". What was I hoping for? Where did I need hope? As I walked and prayed, I allowed the questions to be present. I wasn't expecting answers. I heard the birds chirping and a neighborhood dog barking. I could hear the noise of cars on the road, but that was more a background noise. Chilly. Cloudy. Chirping. Those were the three words that stuck with me as I traveled the path. 

When I got to the center, I stood. I didn't want to sit on a cold concrete bench, though I might could have done so for a short moment.

I stood in the center for a few moments, listening to the neighborhood dog and the birds. I headed back out, allowing "hope" to travel with me.

I noticed the "crunch" of the mulch under my feet as I walked on the path. 

When I arrived back at the entrance, I took some deep breaths before stepping out onto the threshold blocks and onto the pavers. 

Though I didn't have any great revelations on my journey yesterday, the practice itself was calming. We often don't know what the Great Mystery, Holy Spirit, Creator is up to in our lives. Yet, being open to spending time and space with the Holy One is life changing. We may not realize what changed within us, but being open to the presence allows change.

In a way, it's like being with a friend. You might not always talk when you're with your friend. You may walk along silently or even sit in silence. Verbal communication isn't always necessary in order to know you're in someone's presence. That's how it often is with Creator time for me. There may not be much verbal communication, but there is an awareness of being with and connecting.

Later in the day when the skies cleared to blue, I thought it would be good to go back to the labyrinth for a second prayer walk. However, that didn't happen. 

My hope is to engage in the practice at least twice a week. We'll see.

If you are joining me on this Advent Adventure of prayer walking the labyrinth, how is it going? What insights do you have from your experience?

I invite you to share those.

If you missed the Advent invitation, you can click on the link below to read it.

A Labyrinth Prayer Journey through Advent-- Hope

Let's continue our Advent journey of hope this week.

I will post week 2 on Sunday. 

Deb