Today is Friday. The day that the labyrinth in Chartres
Cathedral in France is uncovered- chairs removed so people from around the
world can use this spiritual tool, which has been walked on for over 800
years. There is something mystical and
magical to think of all who came before...and all who will come after.
I had a restless night and awoke at 8a without the help of an alarm.
I had an alarm set. What is amazing is
that since I've been in France, I haven't awoken before 9:30.
I jumped out of bed and prepared to go.
The church opens at 8:30 and I wanted to be one of the firsts. I got there with 5 minutes to spare so I sat
down on a bench in front of the royal portal.
I glanced up at a clear sky and a bright sun. The sunlight lit up the 2 towers in parts,
some in darkness while others shining with the sunlight. I loved the way the light played with the
architecture.
At promptly 8:30, a
person unlocked the Iron Gate and welcomed us. Three of us walked into the nave where itwas a hushed darkness. Around the labyrinth stood a group with
candles saying prayers. I have to admit
that my first thought was "no fair, why wasn't I invited to this special
event?" Then I laughed. Isn't it like us to want to feel special as
we participate in special events only for a select few? God gently said, "your journey is a
private one between you and I. You don't
need this to feel special". People
started to move around in preparation for walking the ancient stones. A handful of people entered before me and
quite a few were behind me. My heart
sunk as I acknowledged that I didn't want all these people around. Again, I laughed. This is life.
People are always around. Their
presence can bother us and dampen our experience OR we can learn to walk our
journey with all these people around, keeping fast to our inward walk. So I started.
It was slow going at first b/c people walk at different speeds. The woman before me liked to stop often and
gaze upward. I decided to go with the
flow and do likewise. This bothered some women behind us so they quickly past
us on the quest to reach the center. I
wonder if the center is your only focus, what you will miss in getting there so
quickly. I am learning to be humble,
observe and not judge so I am only making an observation. I do realize that we walk this in different
stages of our lives; with different focuses.
One author said: "All who walk the labyrinth are on the same path
with the same goal. (I think the goal is not to reach the center, but for GOD
to reach us) There is always a time when you go by someone moving in the
opposite direction. Don't be fooled by
appearances. Whether heading into the
center or heading out from the center you are both on the same path." In this way, labyrinths can be used as a tool
of compassion. As I passed beside people
going along a further part or when I was walking out of the labyrinth, I used
my time to observe others and smile. It
is amazing what a smile can do- meaning without words: we are in this together.
As I walked towards the
center, I constantly pulled my mind back into the present. It is so easy to allow our thoughts to roam
and rob us of the present experience.
Stopping, feeling the stones beneath me, looking up at the stain glass
windows and saying a prayer of thanks were ways to bring me back. I was concerned that when I reached the
center, it would be too crowded for me to say the Lord's Prayer using the 6
petals of the rosette. "Do not
worry" was the answer. So I let
that go. I focused on just being.
There are many curves,
which take you on a 180-degree turn.
There are times you feel you've just been there, but you are going a
different direction. The beauty of this
is that you can see what you missed when you were walking the other way. Potentially the same place, but different
perspectives. What a wonderful way of
looking at life.
I like thinking of the worn path, composed of
many stones. All having beginnings and
endings. Where one ends, another begins. Saying goodbye to one chapter opens you up
for the next chapter. Whether it’s a
wonderful time in your life or the most difficult, these chapters do have a
beginning and an end. Living in the
moment allows us to get the most out of each chapter. There are lessons and silver lining
experiences in every day living.
When I am relaxed in
where I am going; knowing that the path is planned out, I feel at peace. Many turns make it impossible to see past the
next turn, but I can be assured that there is a path. I believe this is the answer to successful
living. Walking the steps in front of
you as they open themselves, armed with confidence allows you to live this day
to the fullest. Someone knows where you
are going and it doesn't have to be you.
I reached the center as
the only person left. I was alone in the
rosette. This was truly amazing. I had pictured myself bumping into lots of
others as I prayed. To be alone was
glorious and an answer. I quietly went
through my prayer of faith, surrender, service, abundance, forgiveness and
strength. As I walked out of the 6th
petal, I was drawn to the center circle.
I stepped in and realized that I wasn't finished. It felt right to say "For Thine is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen." Now I was done. I was ready to take the curved path back to
the beginning. As I met others going
towards the center, I paused and smiled.
It was a wonderful feeling to acknowledge each of our journeys with a
smile. So easy to give, so easy to
forget to give.
I left the cathedral with
a joyful smile plastered on my face. I
couldn't have frowned at that moment to save my life. I was too right with the world to frown.
I plan to go back later
today, hopefully when the crowds have diminished so I can do it again. I feel more alive and open to life than I
have ever felt. So many possibilities. The future looks bright. And you know how long I've waited to get
here!
A side note: How are labyrinths a spiritual prayer
tool? I have wondered this and think
that God uses anytime we are quiet and still to show up and be with us. What makes a labyrinth beautiful is this; it
allows our bodies to move while our minds can be still; walking and meditating
without running into any walls.
A prayer at the center of
the labyrinth
Using the Lord's Prayer
as a guide
inspired by Kathleen
McGowan
Use the rosette in the
center of the labyrinth as the model of the Holy Spirit.
Working left to right,
embrace the first petal of the holy rose - FAITH and pray,
To our Father Who is Benevolent
and Reigns in Heaven
Your names are hallowed and
sacred.
Contemplate here your
faith in the Lord God and the grace of the Holy Spirit, while giving gratitude
for the presence of the trinity in your life and on earth.
Thank you for the presence of the
trinity in my life. I give thanks for
the faith You have given me.
Embrace the second petal
- SURRENDER, and pray,
Your kingdom comes to us through
obedience to Your will.
Thy will be done.
Listen to the voice of
your Father that you may hear His will and carry it out without fear or
fail. Stay in this petal for as long as
it takes you to submerge yourself and find the blessed release of surrender to
His will rather than your own.
Help me hear Your voice and carry
out Your will without fear or fail.
Bless me with the release of surrender.
Your will not mine will be my
mantra. Let me carry the peace, which
comes from surrender into all aspects of my life.
Embrace the third petal -
SERVICE and pray,
On earth as it is in heaven
Here you will reaffirm
your promise to God and to yourself, which is your purpose on earth. Pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes
to your purpose. You will confirm your commitment to create heaven on earth by
acting in accordance to Jesus' teachings of love by loving God above all else
and by loving your brothers and sisters on earth as yourself, for they are a
part of your family.
I promise You, Father that I will
continue the purpose you chose for me.
Allow the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to this purpose. I commit to creating heaven on earth by
acting in alignment with Jesus' teachings of love by loving You first and then
loving my brothers and sisters as myself.
Embrace now the fourth
petal - ABUNDANCE and pray,
Give us this day our daily bread,
the manna,
Give thanks to the Lord
for all he has provided you and know that when you live in harmony with His
will and honor your promise/purpose to His service, you will know the bounty of
abundance on a daily basis. When you
live in the flow of God's grace and you are aligned with God's will, you will
have all your needs met. TRUST
Thank you for all that You have
given me. Help me live in harmony with
Your will and trust Your bounty on a daily basis. Give me the ability to stay in the flow of
Your will knowing that all my needs will be met. Give me the trust of a child.
Embrace the fifth petal -
FORGIVENESS, and pray,
And forgive us for our errors and
debts
As we forgive ourselves and all others.
Here you must list those
who have harmed you, who have given ill witness against you, or who have
otherwise caused you pain. And you must
forgive them, while praying that they will one day find their purpose in God's
plan and realize their own connection to God.
You must ask that anyone you have offended forgive you in the same way,
and most of all you must forgive yourself for all the actions and thoughts that
have brought shame upon you. For while
all forgiveness is the balm of our compassionate God, self-forgiveness is
needed most of all.
Father, give me Your grace to
forgive. You call us to forgive
ourselves and others to cleanse our hearts for a better life. Help me list all who have injured me and to
forgive those offenses. In the same way,
show me where I have offended and help me right a wrong. Lastly, wipe away my sins and help me forgive
myself. You are giving me the gift of
freedom from guilt and shame. Help me
accept this gift with gladness and joy.
Embrace the sixth petal -
STRENGTH, and pray,
Keep me on the path of
righteousness and
Deliver me from the temptations of
evil.
For temptation is that
which keeps us from becoming the butterfly God wants us to be. It prevents us from keeping our promise to
God and to ourselves and to each other.
They are the temptations of avarice, hubris, sloth, lust, wrath,
gluttony and envy most of all.
Contemplate these sins and pray for your release from any that tempt you
from the path of God.
After forgiveness, help me learn
the lessons of my mistakes and the mistakes of others so that I may live life
to the fullest. Keep me on Your path and
when I do veer from it, show me so that I may trailblaze back to You.
Stand in the MIDDLE of
the ROSETTE in AWE and pray
For thine is the kingdom and the
power and the glory
Forever and Ever. AMEN
It is through living the Lord’s Prayer that
all of us have the potential to create heaven on earth. It is through this prayer that love will be
expressed.
LOVE
CONQUERS ALL
FAITH
SURRENDER
SERVICE
ABUNDANCE
FORGIVENESS
STRENGTH
IN AWE
