Metaphorically Speaking

"The labyrinth, at it’s most basic level is a metaphor for the journey to the center of your deepest self and back out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are."

                                                --Circle of Inner Wisdom

 

A Labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is a challenge; it's you against the maze. If you make it through you win, if you don't you loose. A labyrinth is a path. Although it twists and turns, if you follow the path you will get to the end. The journey of walking a labyrinth is a metaphor of our life’s journey. Just as the journey of our existence has obstacles to be overcome so to can there be obstacles to walking the labyrinth.

I have a very special labyrinth in my life. It was built  at my church as my older son's Eagle Scout Leadership service Project. My younger son enhanced the labyrinth area with benches, flower boxes, a garden and solar lighting. Over the summer we have been having Full Moon Labyrinth walks. On the night of the August full moon the sky was cloudy and the light of the moon wasn’t able to help us see the path. Also it had been cloudy for two days so the solar lighting around the labyrinth was ineffective. Walking the labyrinth by the August full moon did prove challenging. Many of those on the journey on the labyrinth that night reflected many of the challenges of my weight loss journey.

Not only have I walked the labyrinth frequently, I helped design and build it, so I am very familiar with the path as it winds in and out. Walking the labyrinth in the dark wasn’t as challenging for me, just as when you have done something many times when things don’t go right it is easier to figure the way when you have already been successful at the task, but I did loose my way. I was able to get back on the path with some reflection as to where I had come from and to where I was going. Sometimes I find this weight loss journey easy as I have done it before. I know what to do and I know how to do it, but then something challenges me and I stray, but for now I have my site on where I want this journey to take me and I am determined. 

As we walked the labyrinth on the night of the full moon some were struggling to follow the path in the dark but those close by helped point the way. Just as on my weight loss journey those who are close to me will offer support and encouragement and guidance. As one person was stuck someone came along with a light to help show the way. Many can relate to being stuck on something and someone helping to shed some light on the problem either actually or figuratively.

 The back left corner of the labyrinth was particularly dark. The beans that were planted in the garden had grown quite tall and thick and obscured the light that was coming from the kitchen window. In life we can experience problems because something blocks us from seeing what we need to see, just as the beans blocked the light from getting to the labyrinth. Sometimes on this journey of mine my sight of the path is obscured by foods that are not good for me but they are foods that I love. I need to keep my sight set on my goal no matter what is blocking me from it.

One of my favorite authors, Robert Fulghum, is known for his short stories. His most famous is All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. In this essay he lists off all the import things a child learns in Kindergarten that are lessons that last a lifetime, like clean up your own mess, don't take things that aren't yours, and say you are sorry when you hurt somebody. He ends this essay just as we ended our August Full Moon Labyrinth walk.

       Towards the end of the evening, we had all finished our journey except one who was “lost” so I went in and led her out with the light from my iPhone. I didn’t quite take her hand and lead her out, but just as in life, to quote Mr. Fulghum … , no matter how old you are - when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. I'm glad to have a friend with me on my journey, to hold my hand and help me through the tough times, to offer me words of encouragement, and listen to my frustrations.