Everything We Love We Lose
A hard saying. An interesting sermon title. A thought to ponder. Pastor Cogan at Cross of Grace Church in New Palestine, Indiana, gave this message last night with this title during the midweek service where the theme is . . .
St James’ Episcopal Church - Jackson Mississippi
Trivia question: Does “Cleanliness is next to godliness” appear in the Bible? The Bible does talk about being clean, having things in order, and avoiding chaos, but is that famous phrase from the Bible?
On the way back from our recent trip to Texas, we stopped to walk a labyrinth in Jackson, Mississippi. The one at St James’ Episcopal Church. It was the most well-kept. . .
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church - Shreveport, Louisiana
Although I had made nine trips to Louisiana in the past, seven leading mission trips in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and two for national youth gatherings, I had never walked a labyrinth in the state before. Bob found this one for me on our drive home from Texas at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Shreveport. It is a medieval-inspired Santa Rosa design. . .
University of Texas San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas
This labyrinth is suspended between heaven and earth. As I walked the shadow it cast, I realized I also was between heaven and earth. Neither in heaven, nor in the earth. We walk upon the earth under the heavens only for a time. What do we do with that time? What is our focus? . . .
Cross of Grace Lutheran Church New Palestine, Indiana
Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine, in an adjacent county to Indianapolis, has a contemporary labyrinth on the lawn next to the church. It looked like the dancing woman style of labyrinth when I first viewed it from a satellite image.
Cumberland First Baptist Church Cumberland, Indiana
Cumberland First Baptist Church in “Historic Old Town Cumberland”, a charming little section on the far edge of Indianapolis, was my next stop on my “Living Light” labyrinth retreat. This labyrinth is an eleven-circuit medieval Chartres design with grass borders and a mulch path in a beautiful setting.
Rivoli Park Labyrinth Indianapolis, Indiana
“LIVING LIGHT: Shine Among Them Like Stars in the Sky” is the overall theme of the weeklong labyrinth retreat that I created. Each day I plan to visit two or three labyrinths and contemplate their significance in my life at this time. There is a theme for the day and Bible verses associated with it. Today’s theme is “LIVING humbly, making our lives LIGHT” based on Luke 9:3 and Hebrews 12:1-2. One of the three labyrinths I visited, carrying this theme with me, was the Rivoli Neighborhood Park Labyrinth in Indianapolis’ 10th and Sherman neighborhood, a contemporary design with a Triune focus.
Labyrinth Retreat
Walking labyrinths is a spiritual discipline that speaks to, and energizes, my body and soul. I wanted to go away on a retreat, one centered around labyrinths; however, there was no “safe” place available to do it. So, I decided to create my own personal retreat, based out of my apartment, with the help of a wonderfully wise labyrinth facilitator and a dear friend cooking all my meals.