The labyrinth is a powerful spiritual tool, because what we notice about the structure and design of this path, and what we notice about ourselves as we walk it, becomes a mirror of our soul, reflecting our own faith journey and revealing it to us in ways we might not have paid attention to before, as our feet (or our fingers) pray this path. Almost as if the path is now taking US for a walk – freeing our imaginations, taking us more deeply into soul territory we probably wouldn't ever travel to any other way. Such has always been the power of holy pilgrimage- seeking God, stepping into the known and unknown pathways of life and trusting that God will guide us in a most sacred journey through life.

The noted theologian Richard Neibhurh reminds us that:

" Pilgrims are persons in motion, Passing through territories not their own, seeking something we might call completion, or clarity, a goal to which only the Spirit's compass points the way."

Indeed, all world religions contain teachings that articulate the journey of the spiritual seeker, the path one must walk in order to grow in compassion and respond to the world with clarity and wisdom.

"We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road."

As you may know, it was the medieval age that was the real "heyday" of Christian pilgrimage- long journeys taken by pilgrims from all over Europe to Jerusalem, and later, when that journey became to too dangerous, pilgrimage cathedrals, like Chartres, were established through Europe. In some of these, labyrinths were built as "substitute" pilgrimages. In fact, these labyrinths were called "roads to Jerusalem," with the center of the labyrinth representing that Holy City itself, that most sacred place of divine presence.

But the symbolism of pilgrimage is imbedded even more deeply in our Judeo-Christian tradition, all the way back to Abram and Sarah, when they were led by God to leave their home and travel into the unknown, to those 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and Jesus' own wilderness time that formed and shaped his ministry.

All of this pilgrim history gave rise to the journeys that early Christians would take in order to follow Christ, to literally walk in his footsteps, to step so concretely into Jesus' own life that they too, could begin to make new meaning of their own discipleship.

One of the things that walking the labyrinth has taught me is that there is a certain gait and rhythm to holy pilgrimage. A certain pace to a pilgrim's progress. A time of walking with all your trials and troubles, questions and disappointments. A time of being open to Christ - as stranger. A time of questioning and deepening your knowledge of Christ and each other. A time of, finally, breaking bread - finding nourishment, healing, renewal, of having your eyes opened.

In medieval times, pilgrims came across Europe, traveling mostly by foot, taking in all that met them along the way. There was a purpose to their pace. In this way, they were enacting the Road To Emmaus story, in fact, it was a favorite of the pilgrims, for they too, knew of the dangers of the road, and that those they traveled with might just as easily be foe as friend. But they expected that if they paid attention as they traveled that indeed the Risen Christ would be known among them.

So when people would ask these medieval pilgrims where they were going, they would reply, "A la sainte terre - to the Holy Land." And so we have the origin of the word "saunter," the mood, the gait, the pace of the one who walks the as if walking to the Holy Land, with purpose, attentiveness, and wonder, and in doing so, finds the richness and wholeness in journeying with and toward God. Sauntering- a la sainte terre.

For those of us growing older, who know the value of walking - and how precious each step is that we take along life’s way - it’s not just the physical walk that counts. It’s traveling with the souls (not soles) of our feet and our heart and our mind - thus finger labyrinths were created - symbolic prayers that you can take anywhere - a walk of walking with the Lord whenever you feel called.