A Labyrinth Pilgrimage

A new book, A Labyrinth Pilgrimage, guides pilgrims on a journey into the Cross Labyrinth. What is a labyrinth pilgrimage? To answer the question, we must understand the words.

A labyrinth is a maze of sorts. According to Webster, it is "a place constructed of or full of intricate passageways and blind alleys." Labyrinth designs reaching back thousands of years have been uncovered by archaeologists. The name comes from Greek mythology which told a tale of King Minos who trapped the Minotaur in--you guessed it--a labyrinth. Centuries later, labyrinth designs were laid in the floors of Christian places of worship. These labyrinths were quite different from anything that King Minos might have contrived, though. Unlike the complicated Greek trap designed to confuse and contain a mythical creature, Christian labyrinths were "unicursal," which is a fancy way of saying that they have only one path. There were no wrong turns. There were no dead ends. There was simply a path to a destination. In the Cross Labyrinth, that destination is the foot of the cross.

What sort of journey can be taken in a labyrinth? A business trip is a journey, but it cannot be done in a labyrinth. A visit to grandma's house is a journey, but a labyrinth will not take you there. In physical terms, the beginning and end of a labyrinth are very close to each other. In Christian cathedrals, the only separations between the paths are the lines on the floor. There is no physical barrier. There are simply choices to be made. A choice to begin at the entrance. A choice to follow the path. A choice to seek the destination. A decision to go on a pilgrimage.

A pilgrimage is a sacred journey. The practice dates to ancient times. In the Bible, the Hebrews traveled to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and observe holy days. Christ entered Jerusalem on what Christians now call Palm Sunday so that He could celebrate the Passover. It was an annual pilgrimage. It was a sacred journey. The following Sunday, Jesus rose from the grave. Christians throughout the centuries have followed in the steps of Jesus, visiting Jerusalem to remember the passion and victory of their Lord.

A labyrinth pilgrimage is a symbolic pilgrimage. Because the labyrinth has only one entrance, it is a pilgrimage that remembers the words of Jesus when He said, "I am the door." Because the labyrinth has only one path, it is a pilgrimage that honors the words of Jesus when He said, "I am the way." Because the destination in the Cross Labyrinth is the foot of the cross, it leads Christians to experience the same obedience demonstrated by Christ who, as a humble man, prayed to the Father, "Not my will, but thine."

A Labyrinth Pilgrimage, available through Amazon.com, guides the reader on a spiritual journey through the Bible from creation to the resurrection. It is a journey with a focus and a purpose to encounter God in a deeper and more meaningful way. And just as pilgrims have journeyed annually for centuries, it is a journey that can be enjoyed year after year.