05/02/2026
A reflection for World Labyrinth Day, May 2, 2026
by Mark Lepper, Hospitality Coordinator:
The labyrinth is an ancient prayer method that dates back more than 4000 years. It has shown up in various cultures and countries throughout the ages, and has served as a pathway of prayer for many people. We have recently set up a canvas labyrinth here at Sophia Center. It's a 7-circuit medieval-style labyrinth, based on the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. As I've been walking it and accompanying others on it here at Sophia Center, I've begun to see that even though it might be an ancient prayer practice, it still has a lot to teach us today.
One thing I've learned from the labyrinth is that there is no one "correct" way to walk it. There are suggestions and methods that can be helpful, but ultimately, each person gets to experience the labyrinth for themselves. You might come with a question you want answered or someone you want to pray for. You might walk it with nothing in mind and just see what comes up. You might want to walk it slowly and spend some time in the center, or you might want to walk in and out as quickly as you can. All of these ways, and others, are welcome. The labyrinth gently reminds us that life is much the same way. There is no single correct way to live. We all have different gifts, skills, and callings. We each have our own desires and dreams. We are all walking our own path, and we are invited to trust the way we are being led.
Another thing that I've learned from the labyrinth is to "experience my experience." If I enter the labyrinth expecting to have a particular experience, there's a chance I will be disappointed when it doesn't match what I imagined. And I will have been too busy focusing on it going a certain way that I might miss all of the other little, holy moments that happened along the path. But if I enter the labyrinth open to whatever unfolds, willing to take it as it comes, then I leave room for the unexpected to meet me there. In the same way, in life, when we expect things to go a certain way, or for something particular to happen, we can end up being discouraged or disappointed if it doesn't. If we are so focused on a particular experience or outcome, we can miss all of the other beautiful moments waiting to break in. But when we approach life with openness, willing to "experience our experience," we begin to notice that life is always offering us more than what we planned for, if we are open enough to receive it.
A third thing the labyrinth has taught me is that things might happen along the path, there might be other people around who are in my way, or walking in a different way than me, or making noise that can be distracting. In these moments, I have a choice. I can become frustrated and let the actions of someone else derail me and spoil my experience. Or, I can pause and become curious. What is being stirred in me right now? What is it about this situation that is causing me to get upset? What is this experience inviting me to notice? Everything that happens in the labyrinth is part of our prayer. Even the interruptions. The same is true in life. As we move along our own paths, we will encounter people and situations that challenge us. Sometimes they will frustrate or discourage us. When they do, we can either resist them or gently open ourselves to what they want to reveal to us. Not every interruption is welcome, but each one holds the possibility of helping us to grow.
What we practice on the labyrinth is what we carry into our lives. We learn to let go of our need for a single right way, to stay open to our experience, and to meet interruptions with curiosity, and that can change how we walk wherever we are. I am sure there are many more things that the labyrinth has to teach me. I am excited to continue to learn from it and from those who will come to Sophia Center to walk it and pray.
You are welcome to come experience the labyrinth for yourself, whether during a private retreat or one of the upcoming retreats we have scheduled. To learn more, go to https://www.mountosb.org/sophia-spirituality.../retreats/
