A friend in Program recently had his first experience with a labyrinth. For those of you unfamiliar with labyrinths, they are ancient symbols related to wholeness. They combine the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. Labyrinths represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. They have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.

A labyrinth, when mapped out on the ground, resembles a maze. Unlike a maze, though, there is no wrong path that can be taken. There is one wandering path, and one path only, from the entrance to the center.

Our friend enjoyed a wonderful meditation experience with a local labyrinth:

For me, the labyrinth is a metaphor for my walk with God. From the outside of the labyrinth, if I don't follow the path, there is a very short, straight walk to the center -- God as I understand God. But the meandering path of the labyrinth represents much more accurately my own walk with God. Many times I get close to God, only to be sidetracked and taken back. But sooner or later, with the help of Steps 10, 11 and 12, my path always takes me back to the center.

Eventually my walk becomes a matter of faith. Even when I'm at the furthest point from the center, I know that working the last three Steps always provides a pathway back to God.

Labyrinths are more common than most of us realize -- there may be several in your area, in churches, parks and so forth. You may like to search for one on the Internet and walk it yourself.