St. Luke's Episcopal Church in North Little Rock invites the community to stop by today to celebrate World Labyrinth Day.
The worldwide event, now in its seventh year, is billed as a time to "Walk as One at 1," so labyrinth walks will start at the church at 1 p.m. The Rev. Joanna Seibert, deacon at St. Luke's, said the event is a way to help others learn about the spiritual practice and to let the community know the church's outdoor labyrinth is available for walking 24 hours a day.
"We're excited about it and we're trying to get the community involved," Seibert said.
Labyrinths are mazelike patterns used for prayer or walking meditation but unlike a maze with a myriad of dead ends, a labyrinth has only one path to the center and out again. The idea is to pray or meditate while slowly walking the winding path to the center and back out.
The Rev. Carey Stone, rector, said it's easy to get lost in a maze but a labyrinth is a sure path with the center being a symbol for God.
"I think life for many people is a maze and I think the Christian story is saying, 'No, actually it's a labyrinth,'" he said. "With God you stay on the path and with God you will get where you need to be. No one is really lost as far as God is concerned. You may feel lost or feel a sense of alienation but in truth you are on the path whether you know it or not."
Stone said he was a skeptic before he walked a labyrinth for the first time.
"I experienced a real feeling of peace and when I made it to the center I was able to just let go of some stuff and I felt a load lifted off of me," he said. "I've been a believer ever since."
Arkansas is home to many labyrinths. They can be found in churches, hospitals, prisons and in private backyards. Some, like the one at St. Luke's, are made of stone or slate tiles in outdoor settings. The patterns can also be cut into grass or outlined with rocks. Many are found indoors on the floors of churches. Others are portable patterns on canvas that can be used for walking indoors or outside.
One of the most famous labyrinths is at Chartres Cathedral in France. Its path leads walkers through four quadrants and finally to a rosette at the center. The labyrinth at St. Luke's features the same pattern and was crafted by parishioners in the late 1990s.
In addition to walks by individuals, the labyrinth is also used during some worship services, said Seibert. Palm Sunday services start at the labyrinth and balloons are released there on Pentecost. Palms for Ash Wednesday are also burned at the labyrinth each Shrove Tuesday.
The labyrinth is always open and lighted at night and the public is welcome to walk at any time.
Seibert hopes the World Labyrinth Day walk will encourage more people to use it.
"We're hoping for our parish to become more a part of the community," she said.
During today's walk, parishioners will hand out brochures about the labyrinth to those new to the practice. The "Walk as One at 1" theme signifies that people around the world will be walking at 1 p.m. in their time zones.
"You feel really connected," Seibert said.
Seibert said she has a hard time sitting still and being quiet enough to meditate but finds it easier to focus while on the labyrinth.
"There's something about the walking that will clear your mind and center you," she said.
The church is at 4106 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Information is available online at stlukeepiscopal.org or by calling (501) 753-4281.
Religion on 05/02/2015