The Holy Spirit often calls me to the Prayer Labyrinth when I’m on my way to run errands. Every time I’m driving in the direction of this sacred place and think God isn’t going to say anything, I feel the Spirit nudging me saying, “Come away with me.”
I turn on my blinker, switch lanes, and make the turn to the prayer labyrinth that sits on the side of the parking lot at St. Matthew Catholic Church. I have walked many labyrinths in the city of Baltimore, but this one is my favorite. Surrounding the labyrinth is a garden that is not too heavily manicured. Honeybees and butterflies are drawn to the wildflowers and hyssop growing there. It’s the garden’s rustic and organic feel that I love.
The labyrinth itself is intimate. The church placed two benches on either side inviting visitors to sit, to meditate, to breathe, to take a break from the heaviness of the world. And, on the other side is a wooden cross reminding visitors that they are not alone, God is there.
Entrance of the Prayer Labyrinth
I discovered prayer labyrinths during a study of Adele Calhoun’s Spiritual Discipline’s Handbook, but I did not think I would find one in the city of Baltimore. My first encounter with a prayer labyrinth was during the pandemic. I, like many, took to walking to help me deal with what was happening in the world and to get a moment to myself that was outside of my home inhabited by my husband and three teenagers.
One day, I happened to stop to tie my shoe and saw, inscribed on a brick, “Enter into these gates with thanksgiving and into this place with praise.”
The invitation
I immediately walked into the entrance of the gates and found a labyrinth that was less than a 10-minute walk from my house.
My first encounter was not the holy experience I thought it would be. In fact, I did not hear the voice of God at all because I was so busy concentrating on following the path to the center and back out again that I missed the point. But God knew I needed the experience of walking the labyrinth first before interacting with me.
The next day, I headed back. This time, I distinctly heard God say, “Come away with me.” I decided to walk looking ahead of myself instead of watching my feet. “Take one step at a time. Trust me.” I sobbed when I got to the center at the thought that God called me. God wanted me. God had invited me to abide.
After that, I was determined to find other labyrinths like the one close to my home. I researched and made a list of fourteen and decided to make pilgrimage to each one. Would the experience be different or the same? What would God say to me? Would the Lord meet me there, too?
Entering the Prayer Labyrinth
Over the course of two months, I visited prayer labyrinths mowed in grass, carved out of stone in courtyards, drawn on concrete in the basement of churches, lovingly crafted outside of hospitals, and one made from brick in the parking lot of a Catholic Church.
The labyrinth at St. Matthew’s quickly became my favorite and it is the one God calls me to most often, probably because this is where God stops me along the way, breaking my routine of moving through life at a nonstop pace. It’s the Holy Spirit’s way of saying, “Slow down, Candance.”
No matter the time of year or the weather, God calls me the same way: “Come away with me to the prayer labyrinth. I am here waiting for you.” Sometimes, there’s natural debris on the labyrinth covering the path. At those times, I became anxious and think, “I can’t see which way to go, Lord!” The Holy Spirit always responds, “Follow me.” I continued walking even though I can’t see the guides along the path. Somehow, I always end up at the center. God says, “I will always lead you to me, even when you can’t see the way. Trust me.”
The Cross
Other times, the way is clear, but I still doubt my steps. The Holy Spirit responds with, “Follow me step-by-step. Don’t worry about what’s coming. Just follow me step-by-step. Don’t look down the road. Just follow me step-by-step. Trust me. Step-by-step.”
One morning, after walking the labyrinth at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, I got in my car to leave when I read the sign that had been bolted above their stop sign that said “STOP you are now entering the Mission Field. Exit only.”
Two thoughts came to mind: First thought: How sobering it is that God entrusts us with the work of the Mission Field, to shine the Lord’s light on the body of Christ whether they know the Lord or not? We are often the only representative of God many will see which is why it’s imperative that we ask the Holy Spirit to operate with the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control—at all times. That’s what tending to those in the Mission Field is all about.
You’re entering the Mission Field
Second thought: How fitting is it that the prayer labyrinth is positioned in a space that is tucked away from the street and this sign? The labyrinth is visible yet far enough away to offer a brief respite along the way. Sabbath and time alone with God are so important BEFORE heading out to the Mission Field. It is the space where God speaks, where God hears you, where you can lament, where you receive instruction, where you can exhale what’s bothering you and inhale the peace of God. It’s the space where God prepares you to do the work.
I teared up when I saw that sign. There is so much work to do, especially now, but I am in awe of the fact that God trusts me to do the work. The prayer labyrinth is a roadmap for my life. God is there to help me navigate all the bends and turns that I encounter. That is why I always answer when I hear “Come away with me.” God calls me and I am grateful the Lord chose this special place for us to commune together.
