The Labyrinth

Recently I went to West Virginia to visit a friend and take care of some things. While I was there she told me about a labyrinth. My first thought or picture was of a really big maze with high walls of bushes and grass. So I was a little surprised when it was a brick labyrinth that was relatively small. But wow what a huge impact it made on and in me.

At the beginning it gives you instructions on what to do before, during and after you follow the Labyrinth. I prayed before I entered and then continued as I followed the path. Many things came to me as I followed this path. It reminded me of life and even more so of my relationship with God.

There were many turns in the path. At times it seemed you were doing a total u-turn and going back to where you had just been. I can remember many of those times in my walk with God. They were times of questioning, doubt, hurt and even anger.

There were times in the path that it seemed I was back at the beginning. Have you ever felt like you were back at the beginning of your walk with God? Those times when you thought you had learned the lesson you were once again facing. Maybe feeling disappointed in yourself and knowing He had to be disappointed with you too. At those times is when I wanted to give up. I thought I would never learn and become what He wanted me to be.

Walking on the path there were also times I was so close to the destination that I could almost reach out and touch it. I love those points in my walk. Those are the times when my heart is truly in tune with Him and even if it was hard I could sense HIm close and see purpose in the pain. Those are times that I hear His voice clearly, see His hand moving, and dream of His purposes.

Then there were times on the path when I was so far away from the beginning and end that I thought I would never reach either end and wanted to just get off the path. One word comes to mind for that...desert. I hate desert times with God. It seems nothing is working. I can't hear Him, feel Him, see Him, and it is definitely hard to believe I am loving Him during those times. All that seems to be around me are the vultures waiting to pounce on my dead body.

But finally I made it to the end and stood in the middle of a huge circle. All around from the middle of this circle bricks radiated out like rays of light. When I looked up there was a waterfall in the window in front of me. On the outside pain of glass was a cross. For a brief moment I thought I was in Heaven. For all around me was the presence of the One who loved me with All that He is and wanting nothing back from me but for me to return that love.

Oh, that I would fully break open my heart and soul and lay them at His feet. That I would love Him with an extravagant love as He loves me. With all that I am. ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my mind, ALL my strength, ALL of me.

Oh, Father. Help me in my weakness to give You all that I am.

The Labyrinth