we at the united methodist church of merced, are handling this season a little differently this year. we are offering a reflection of the season utilizing adam hamilton's work, '24 hours that changed the world'. in this study, both during worship and in small groups, we will explore, well, the last 24 hours of jesus' life, beginning with the passover seder that we embrace as communion, and concluding with the crucifixion.
as a way of beginning this journey, we offered a personal prayer time on ash wednesday. instead of having a traditional service in which we conclude with receiving ashes on our foreheads and remembering that we are dust and to dust we shall return, we offered the labyrinth. walking the labyrinth is a style of prayer that invites us to open ourselves up to a journey with god; as we walk into the center, we let go of those things which prevent us or block us from faithfulness; as we walk out from the center, we are open to receive god's spirit -- which is always available to us, but after we let go of all our clutter, we have room for god and better resources to grow in faith.
we will offer the labyrinth again on thursday april 5, and friday april 6; those days are traditionally known as holy thursday and good friday. we felt the best way to be closer to understanding our spiritual path was in prayer with god. so please, join us. we will even have 'on line' and paper labyrinths available for those who have difficulty walking. 11:30 am until 2 pm; 5 pm until 7 pm, both days.
i've always believed that one could not get lost on the labyrinth. it is a simple path to follow. but somehow this past week, i never made it to the center. so my season of reflection will be to prayerfully consider what that means. i did make it back out again, and i wasn't fearful, just curious and amazed that this could happen. i understand this has happened to others as well. no worries, when it comes to prayer.
so here is a picture of me walking the labyrinth. such a calming experience and a wonderful way to be emptied and filled again by the grace of god. i'm ready for whatever this season brings.
and my walking continues. for those who have been following my blog, you know that i've started walking with a pedometer. my goal each day is to take at least 7,000 steps. most days it is not a problem to reach that goal number, but on days when i have to be somewhere early (like worship on sunday mornings or the men's breakfast and bible study on thursday mornings), i just can't get in my daily walk. rather than being obsessed by this reality, i find that i'm ok with being able to walk five days and take two off.
i'm paying attention, once again, to what god is trying to say to me. and in the process, i've completed 720 health miles on my pedometer. when i am able to walk in the morning, my step count is moving toward over 10,000 steps! wha-hoo! my hope is to reach 2,000 health miles by march 30.
i kind of like having a goal, and being accountable to others other than myself (i have not one, but two clergy groups with whom i will be sharing the results each week). not obsessive, but committed! i've noted how difficult it is for some of my colleagues to commit to being accountable. i just figure it is one more way to remain faithful -- to myself, if to no one else!
what steps are you taking on your faith journey this season?
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