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?
Pastor Dick Borrud at Lee Valley Ranch Camp in South Dakota helped so many people focus and figure this out by having everyone come up with a list of “25 Things To Do Before I Die”. This was long before the 2007 movie “The Bucket List” with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It was also more valuable than a bucket list, as people of all ages, even a child, can create a list – not only someone who is dying, as is portrayed in the movie. The list has 25 things on it; and when one is completed and removed from the list, another is added. As Dick said: “You own the list. The list does not own you. You can modify it at any time.” At the end of your days, you still have 25 things on your list. Dick always said more people die from having no reason to live than for any other reason. This list gives hope and 25 reasons to always live. My list includes walking one labyrinth in every state, a task that will not be crossed off anytime soon.
“The labyrinth is not a provider of great truths, but a reflector of great questions.” Thomas Rivera
This quote above, which was inscribed on the short wall around the labyrinth, resonated with me. There are books that talk about people getting amazing answers to the questions they take into their walk; or about those who have great revelations; or about those who meet saints, apparitions and even God in the labyrinth. Personally, I have had none of those things happen. I may have a question or thought to carry with me, but generally receive no great answers. I walk because it gives me great peace and calms my spirit. The quote makes so much sense to me in my walks and gives me great comfort.
This labyrinth was hard to find. While looking for it on this small, one square city block campus, I came upon the coordinator for conventions and asked for directions. He had no idea there was even a labyrinth on the campus or what a labyrinth was. I saw a couple of students and asked them if they knew where it was, and they immediately directed me to its location. That’s the thing about labyrinths. They can be hard to locate; but once you do, it is quite an exciting ah ha moment. When I travel, Bob always finds ones for me to walk as he checks out the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator. It’s a great resource you can check out at https://labyrinthlocator.com/.
Having arrived at this labyrinth around 3:00pm, the picture shows the shadow sliding the labyrinth off to the side. One photo even shows it on me. It’s quite a unique concept. Because of the time of day, I could only walk part of it, but I could stand in the center.
This labyrinth on a busy street corner reminded me of Thomas Merton, standing on another busy street corner in Kentucky, where he realized through a great revelation that he loved all those people and that they shone like the sun. Although there were not a lot of people walking around this spot, there were a lot of people driving cars quite fast as the expressway was right there. Cars everywhere. My prayer was, like Merton’s, that all those people knew they shone like the sun and how much God loved them. You can check out Merton’s experience more here: https://www.spiritualtravels.info/ens-columns/on-a-busy-street-corner-with-thomas-merton/.
The second quote by Thomas Rivera from 1971, carved on this low plaza wall, says: “In essence is it not life in search of form – a conquest, a labyrinth in which to reflect this human condition?” I’m not totally sure what it means, but it gave me again something to ponder once I walked away. May this “Labyrinths of Hope” note give you something to think about as well.
Labyrinth Details: The Labyrinth Gateway is the title of this one and was designed by Lewis deSoto. It is situated in the Thomas Rivera Plaza at the SE corner of the downtown campus of UTSA (University of Texas San Antonio). It is made of aluminum, is 20 feet in diameter, and is suspended on cables above the plaza. The shadow cast can be walked and moves around according to the time of day. Built in 2003, it is a six-circuit medieval design located at the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and North Pecos Street in the heart of downtown San Antonio.
Location: University of Texas San Antonio
Walked: 10.19.23