Walking the Labyrinth

Today I experienced a new discipline, the discipline of walking the Labyrinth.

Labyrints are not mazes (cup-de-sacs and dead ends; more than one entrance and more than one exit and are designed to make us lose our way). Labyrinths have the exact opposite purpose: they are designed to help us find our way. 

The Labyrinth is an ancient tool for the spiritual journey. Walking the labyrinth may be called "prayer in motion" (Dr Lauren Artress).

"It is solved by walking" (St Agustine).

"Walking the labyrinth is a spiritual discipline that invites us to trust the path, to surrender to the many turns our loves take, and to walk through the confusion, the fear, the anger, the grief that we cannot avoid experiencing as we live our earthly lives. The labyrinth is a place where we can open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. We can ask for guidance and pray for ourselves and our loved ones. It calms the confused mind and the chaotic, fearful heart. It allows us to release all that is in our way of relating to the Divine: our hard-heartedness, our judgements, our impatience. The healing power of gratitude often visits the heart" (Straja Linder-King).

Most of the experiences that occur in the labyrinth are unexpected. They are guided by a sacred wisdom, a creative intelligence that knows more about what we need than do our conscious selves"(Dr Lauren Artress).

This is the labyrinth setting at the Ashland Seminary chapel.

As I got to the center I was able to experience a new, fresh and profound experiential understanding of the cross of Christ. And I came out a bit more sorted. Thank you God for Jesus!

At the Potter’s House

My pot is/has:

1. Three parts
2. Round
3. Top opens
4. Different shades of the brown color
5. Rugged feel
6. Pale and mate colors inside
7. Rugged bottom (fire cooked?) - more rugged than rest
8. Top edge larger than pot itself
9. Handle twisted
10. Decoration even but a brown uneaven line
11. Cannot be held with one hand (at least my hand!)
12. Circular line round shape, Vertical line, vertical shape
13. Imperfection on one side
14. A few tiny little holes
15. Inscription at the bottom

My pot is different because it was made for a special and unique purpose. It was made intentionally and not randomly. Despite its ruggedness it is to be used for the best. Yes, it has imperfections but still will be used to accomplish its purpose.

"... I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. ⁵ Then the word of the Lord came5 to me. ⁶ He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-5

Colour in Grey - Color en gris

Today God gave me a special gift as I was looking through the window while having breakfast.

Hoy Dios me dio un regalo especial cuando desayunaba mirando por la ventana.

First Paper: Surrender in C.S. Lewis

1. Books...

2. More books...

 3. Reading, research, thinking, writing...

 4. Paper finished, presented, handed over.

Not Enough...

Chapel at Ashland Theological Seminary... we are reminded of important things...

These videos clips are from a YWAM lecture phase in New Zealand. The speaker is Graham Cooke and I think his words sum up a lot about what we are about in YWAM.

I am No Longer my Own, but Thine

The Prayer

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

(as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936) from The Covenant Prayer from the Wesleyan Covenant Renewal Service.

This is how the new quarter starts at Ashland Theological Seminary... by recommitting our lives to the lordship of Christ.