THE LABYRINTH
- What is a Labyrinth?
- The labyrinth is an archetype, a symbol that appeals to us at an unconscious level. We don’t have to struggle with its meaning intellectually.
- The Structure of a Labyrinth
- A labyrinth has only one winding path that doubles back once or many times before reaching a center and then retraces the same path to the exit. It is unlike a maze which has several entrances, paths with dead ends, switchbacks and intersecting paths leading to the center that are designed to confuse the participant. The labyrinth is found in many forms and in many different religious traditions around the world dating back thousands of years.
- Englewood’s Labyrinth
- The seven-ring Cretan labyrinth mowed in the grass on the grounds at Englewood is the oldest form known in human history. Christians adapted the labyrinth as a way of expressing something sacred. Walking the labyrinth can be a tool that you may use as you go on a sacred journey.
The labyrinth at Englewood Baptist Church provides everyone, who will set aside some time, an opportunity to take a spiritual journey, to ask questions, listen for answers, to find peace or a sense of direction, or looking for a greater connection with God.
One definition for walking a labyrinth is in the first stanza of the hymn “Come and Find the Quiet Center” by Shirley Erena Murray in “The Faith We Sing.” Murray writes, “Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead, find the room for hope to enter, know our being touches base, making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun, raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.” Life seems to find expression when we find that quiet center in our own being.
- Walking the Labyrinth
- The labyrinth is open to the public. There is no one or right way to walk a labyrinth. Your experience may dictate the way you move about the path to the center and as you leave. Skipping, dancing, walking, running, maybe even singing or humming are some of the ways one can enjoy the experience of the labyrinth. There are suggestions on walking the labyrinth in the box at the entrance to the labyrinth.
 May God bless your life as you seek God’s presence.
If you would like more information about the labyrinth, or to schedule a group walking, please contact the church office: 816-453-0975.
Other Materials about Labyrinths
Pondering the Labyrinth by Pilgrim Press
The Spirituality of Mazes & Labyrinths by Northstone
Labyrinths, Ancient Paths of Wisdom and Peace by DA Capo Press
Walking A Sacred Path by Riverhead Books New York
www.labyrinth-enterprises.com
www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm
The Peace Pole project was the idea of a Japanese gentleman, Masahisa Goi in 1955. He wanted to make public, statements about peace, after the atom bomb destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The words MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH came to him after much prayer and meditation. From there it spread to all corners of the world. The purpose of the peace poles is to spread the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in a different language on each side of the pole.
As of this date there are 200,000 to 300,000 peace poles throughout the world. They are made from a variety of different materials. Usually they stand 10’, 4 or 6 sided, with 4 to 12 different languages inscribed on them.
The one at Englewood is made of white resin and stands 8’. A 10’ 4x4 post is cemented 20” in the ground and the 8’ resin pole is placed over it for rigidity. There are patterns of the earth placed around the top to remind us that peace can prevail everywhere on earth. Animal tracks are around the bottom to remind us that peace is needed for all of creation. Outlines of a labyrinth are around the center to remind us that the labyrinth may become a spiritual discipline as one seeks and practices peace. The eight different languages placed on the 4 sides represent only a fraction of all the inhabitants of the earth. They are: Arabic, English, (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian), Cherokee, Chinese, French, Spanish and Swahili.
The Peace Pole at Englewood Baptist Church is one of two that are known to be in the Kansas City area. You are welcome to visit the peace pole. Contact the church office.
For more information about peace poles go to www.peacepole.com.
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