We dance round in a ring and suppose,
But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.

~ Robert Frost

Sabbatical time gives opportunity to discover new spiritual practices that offer sustainability for the ordinary times of ministry. A spiritual practice that beckoned me on my sabbatical this fall was walking the labyrinth. I was privileged to spend 5 weeks at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania - the motherhouse of the Order of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. Part of my everyday spiritual practice was walking the outdoor labyrinth in the fields of Pennsylvania landscape.

The labyrinth at the Villa is the 11-circuit labyrinth designed like the floor of Chartes Cathedral in France. At the center is a rose where each petal offers a place of prayer. As you enter on your left the first petal is for the rocks of earth, the next is for the plants, the next is animals, the next is humans, then celestial beings or saints and finally the petal of the divine. When you walk a labyrinth you meander back and forth, turning 180 degrees each time you enter a different circuit. Shifting direction also shifts one's awareness from right brain to left brain offering the possibility of increased receptivity of consciousness.

There are many approaches to walking the labyrinth, the first few days at the Villa I merely walked the paths hoping for something to knock me over the head with spiritual insight. As my practice developed I began discerning a question to offer as I walked to the center. At the center I stood on each petal giving thanks and offering concerns to each aspect of the rose. On my walk back I cleared my mind becoming mindful of processes, feelings and reflections that came to me. I was always surprised what transpired and within the first week of walking began journaling my experience of walking the labyrinth.

Here is one journal entry for October 3rd:
I am into my fourth week here at the Villa and am beginning to experience some renewed strength. How layered one becomes in the world, how long it takes to peel back the work, the worry, the busyness and burdens and to feel one's tiredness and then the slow seeping of refreshing energy . I walked to the labyrinth after lunch. It was a warm day and I was looking forward to the silence of the fields. When I got there someone was mowing the grass. I struggled to clear my mind in spite of the incessant noise. I entered offering my self, my call... as I walked I started to hum... "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." When I reached the center the person mowing the lawn took a break, as if to respect my prayer of silence. On my return the lawn mowing began again! As I walked from the center many thoughts came to me but persistently there came the verse: Be Still and Know that I Am God.

Then I wondered but who is God? My answer: I don't know… I just know!

And then as I walked out toward the world my mantra continued ...

Be still and know that I Am God ... then
Be still and know that! ... then
Be still and know ... then
Be still and ... then
Be still ... then as I headed out of the labyrinth only the word
"Be!" ...echoed in my heart.

The spiritual practice of walking the labyrinth offers a wonderful opportunity to meander in and through the mystery.

We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring
wiil be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

~ T.S.Eliot