Before this month, I had never heard of a labyrinth and now it is my favorite place to meet God. The first time we went to the labyrinth at Vida Joven everybody just ran through it, and my initial thoughts were, "this is the weirdest maze I've ever been through!" I soon learned that a labyrinth and a maze are nothing alike.
Tuesday night the directors of Vida Joven, Nicaragua had a surprise worship service planned for us. We met at exactly 7:18 pm dressed warmly, and only had our head lamps. We walked in silence towards the labyrinth. When we got to the entrance Ann explained to us how they use the labyrinth with kids that come to the camp and challenged us to walk through one by one without the use of our head lamps and meet with God.
At first I thought there is no way I can walk through that thing in the dark!! I felt God in my heart telling me, "Just trust me! We can do this together. I have things to teach you." As I began walking my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness around me. At first I prayed as I walked and then I realized that God had said He had lessons for me, how was I going to hear Him if I was doing all the talking?
Here are just a few of the things God taught me/reminded me of that night:
- The labyrinth is a lot like my life. There is a cross at the center, so as I was weaving my way through the path there was worship music playing in the background, and at times it seemed to be right beside me, other times I could barely hear it. Looking back, I realize how much calmer and safer I felt when the music was close. The cross never moved, it was me moving. At times in my walk with God I am so close to Him and at other times I am more distant from Him. But, I am never so far away that I can not hear Him calling me home (I could always hear the worship music). God never moves, I am the one that moves.
- My source of light came from the stars which required me to look UP to see. How many times in life do I get wrapped up in junk and can't find my way out? I was reminded if I just look up, God is there looking down with His eyes on me! He will direct my path and give me the light to see!!
- The walls of the labyrinth protected me from the wind I could hear blowing around me. God immediately brought to mind the verse, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:1-4. The walls protected me just like God promises me to pull me under His wing, like a mother hen does to her baby chicks.
- The labyrinth did not end in the center at the cross. The only option I had on which way to turn was at the end. I could turn left and leave the labyrinth or I could turn right and go to the cross. This reminded me of 2 different things. First it reminded me that my life will not end when I am the closest to God I've ever been. But I long for a relationship so close and intimate with God that I am always in the inner circle with Him. I don't want to be so far that I can barely hear His voice. Secondly it reminded me of people in the world. We live our lives doing our own thing. All the while we can hear Jesus calling and knocking on the door to our heart. In the end which was do we turn…right and run into the arms of Jesus or left to the world and eventually to an eternity in hell.
Tuesday night I was lost in the labyrinth, I was lost in the love Christ has for me. I was lost in His desire for me to be closer to Him. I am lost in Him and its the best place I've ever been.
