The newest addition to Epiphany's campus is something called a labyrinth.  (An Eagle Scout candidate from the area was looking for a project and he was kind enough to build it for us.) Many haven't heard of a labyrinth, and when they do see one they aren't quite sure what it is.  Many ask, "Is that a maze?"  Not even close.

I guess the maze question does make sense.  There is a path and it goes in and out, left and right, but in a labyrinth there aren't any dead ends.  There aren't any traps, and no one is trying to trick you.  A labyrinth is a journey.  There are times when you seem to be getting closer to the center, which many would think is the goal, and then you take a turn and you find yourself walking the opposite direction.  Eventually you reach the middle of the labyrinth, and then you turn around and go back the same way, taking those same turns, and just when you get close to the entrance, you double back.  Sure, you could jump over the lines and do whatever you want, but that defeats the purpose.  Quite often when we have youth kids walk a labyrinth, they race to see who can get to the middle first.  That sounds a lot like life, and in our rush we may miss a lot.

A labyrinth is a lot like life.  There are times when we seem to have a clear sense of where we are going, only to have the rug pulled out from under us.  We may see this as a failure, but these are the experiences that help define who you are and shape you into the person you will become.  Just like the labyrinth, there are unexpected turns and lefts when we want to go right, but eventually we discover our destination, only to turn around and go back.  No traps or tricks, just a journey.  Something to reflect on. 

A labyrinth can be very powerful, but too often we want to rush the process and force things to go our way.  Life isn't always like that.  How do you learn to deal with those times when your path goes the opposite direction that you want it to, or just when you think you have reached the end, you turn around and go the other direction?  We can learn from life too, if we let it teach us.  A labyrinth is a tool.  It reflects what life is like.  It asks us to slow down and enjoy the journey.  It gives us pause and reminds us that we aren't alone, and just when we think we have missed it or made mistakes, those unexpected events help make our story even more interesting.

When the scout was finishing up his project, he had a few bricks left over.  One of his parents suggested that he use them to make a cross in the center.  At first he wasn't too keen on the idea.  God is a part of that journey too.  Maybe there are times when we are glad God is there, and maybe there are times when we aren't.  Maybe there are times when things are going well and we are excited to have God journey with us, and then there are times when things don't go well and we find ourselves angry and frustrated with God.  Regardless, God is there. 

So the next time you are at church and you have some time to kill, look for a semi-hidden path on the other side of the parking lot that leads into the trees, and find our labyrinth.  It might just find you.

Enjoy the journey,

Pastor Chris 

 

 pastorchris@epiphanysuwanee.org

8 Epiphany youth will be traveling to Haiti July 14-22nd to volunteer at a summer camp for Haitian children organized through the Haitian Timouan Foundation. Be sure to be here and pray for our youth and adult volunteers!