May 11, 2006
The Green Room: LIGHT
If you live in the Springfield, Missouri area, join us for an authentic, organic, and missional alternative worship experience. Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at Schweitzer United Methodist Church at seven pm.
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April 20, 2006
The Green Room: May 3
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March 13, 2006
Walking the Labyrinth
Schweitzer UMC, where I direct the Young Adult Ministry, has laid out a labyrinth in the family life center (a.k.a. Gym) for the season of Lent leading up to Easter Sunday. People (not just members of Schweitzer) are able to come by the church at most hours of the day (until 9 PM) to walk this bodily prayer and to meditate on God. Although I've taken this spiritual journey online, I've never physically walked a labyrinth before. I came from a background where things like labyrinths are pretty much unheard of.
This afternoon, I decided to go into the gym and to pray in silence and contemplate as I walked through the maze-like substance. I had some naive idea that God was just waiting to pour out a startling revelation to me. Somehow, I thought that I would be mystically infused with a spiritual knowledge I had never known before. I was so looking forward to achieving a sort-of new state of awareness or something like that.
As I walked into the gym, I was disappointed to find that there were two elderly ladies already walking the labyrinth and praying silently. I admit, my first thought was, "Oh, great!" I had hoped to be alone for this experience. But, I decided to start walking anyway. When I "walk" the labyrinth online, I always take my shoes off as a symbolic gesture, and so I did the same for the real thing. And I began walking.
As I began slowly walking - perhaps expecting this revelation - I found myself becoming distracted with these ladies on the road ahead of me on this circular path. I looked down and tried to focus my thoughts on God, and suddenly, I could think of only one thing: how utterly impatient of a human being I was (am!). Wow, I didn't expect THAT revelation. But, I kept walking. And as I walked, I found my thoughts showing me all the times in my life when I'd been impatient with people. I thought about the times I've been unteachable and unmotivated. I thought about how often I had been guilty of seeking approval from others, and thus, failing to be authentic to who I am and who God created me to be.
Kind of seems like I'm beating myself up here, doesn't it? I wasn't expecting to have those thoughts, but the more I walked, the more I began thinking about how unworthy I am to even be here, communicating with God, but how God has brought me in here in spite of all that. And I began to realize how truly blessed I am. I began feeling the urge to slow down along the journey and to take in all that God was teaching me. And before I knew it, I looked up to see that the elderly women had long left the building. I hadn't even noticed.
As I made my way to the center of the labyrinth, I picked up a Bible that had been placed at the center. I closed my eyes, asking God to illuminate something. And I opened to Psalm 106. The Psalm talks about the sins of Israel, becoming infused with the sinful ways of the Egyptian culture and thus, becoming enslaved by that very culture, and how even still, God heard the cries of Israel.
I placed the Bible down and began my journey back into the world again. I began to think about the very sins I was being dealt with about on my journey into the center. I thought about how those things - though not what I would consider to be as big of a deal as the Israelites' sins mentioned in Psalm 106 - were still limiting who I was and what God was wanting me to be. I thought about how critical I've been of others. And as I made my way out, I recited the Jesus Prayer along with The Lord's Prayer and other Psalms I had memorized. And the neatest thing happened to me: suddenly, I began to feel an indescribable peace as if God were walking behind me and guiding me through the labyrinth. I stopped at the exit/entrance and gave thanks to God. I didn't want the journey to end.
I share this with you because if you haven't experienced it, I would encourage you to take this journey. Allow God to mold you as you walk this Medieval bodily prayer. It's an experience you won't forget. And it's one I will take again soon.
NOTE: The labyrinth in the photo is NOT the one at Schweitzer. I'll post that one as soon as I can take a photo of it.
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March 02, 2006
Green Room Worship Gathering: 7PM @ Skinny Improv
I realize it's extreme short notice, but if you happen to be in the Springfield, MO area tonight, March 2, The Green Room alt.Worship experience will be gathering to worship at 7:00 PM at the Skinny Improv in downtown Springfield. Come and worship with us. Hope to see you there.
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