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From ancient times, the labyrinth has been used by many religious traditions as a tool to aid prayer, a sort of walking-meditation. Walking a labyrinth offers an opportunity to be with ourselves and with God — an experience that has become more rare in our media-saturated lives.

The labyrinth at First Presbyterian Church is in the lowest level of the Education Wing, where there is a dedicated sacred space. To get there, go down the stairs once you enter the church through the garden or down the stairs inside the portico-covered door from the parking lot.

How do you walk a labyrinth? Take off your shoes. Stop at the entrance to the labyrinth and say a short prayer. A simple childlike prayer is wonderful to say. Then step inside the path. The simple elegance of the pattern, the recurring turns of the journey — sometimes sudden — challenge one’s cognitive orientation. Within this spiritual exercise, the potential for hearing God’s call becomes perceptible. Because there is no dead reckoning for the exit, a sort of mindfulness grows, allowing God to inform the journey.

Tradition asks one to leave behind anger, hurt, worldly care on the first few turns — and then to stop for reflection at the center. After this opportunity for inward reflection, one walks the same path outward, anticipating a new perspective.

This simple, yet elegant, tool allows the Spirit to calm worldly unease and allows God to enter in — giving insights and new perspectives, helping one wayfind God’s call.

Call the church office (217.528.4311) to schedule a walk.