We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Alex Sprague is one of three Young Adult Volunteers (YAV’s) spending a year in Chinook, part of a program supported by five local churches. Sprague grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and got the idea to build and share a labyrinth with the Chinook community during Holy Week. In his home church back east he said the labyrinth is not a maze, though it has that appearance, but is rather a symbolic form of making a pilgrimage, walking a path ascending towards salvation or enlightenment.
The history of labyrinths
There are an estimated 2000+ labyrinths in the U.S.—located in such diverse places as churches and church yards, retreat centers, hospitals, prisons, parks, airports and community centers. Most of those are permanent and made from paving stones or cement to paths hewn in natural grass. Some permanent labyrinths are built indoors, others are outdoors in a natural setting. Many more labyrinths are ‘portable,’ like the one created in Wallner Hall behind the Chinook Methodist Church, and can be stored when not in use.
In the middle ages, many labyrinths were built in Europe, both inside and outside churches. The origins may have been developed from ancient cultures that used labyrinths in their own spiritual ceremonies and adapted by Christians. Some of the most notable, grand labyrinths were constructed in Chartres and Amiens, in northern France, and Siena in Tuscany, Italy. Labyrinth construction became more fully accepted and developed by the 12th and 13th centuries.
The history and use of the Chinook labyrinth
Sprague presented his idea for a labyrinth at a monthly meeting of the Chinook Christian Men. He asked for volunteers to help, gathered the materials, found a possible design and set Tuesday night of Holy Week to build it. Dennis Findorff, pastor at the local Alliance Church, was trained and worked as a land surveyor before becoming a minister. He used his surveying and math skills to tweak the design and get a usable plan laid out for the labyrinth.
Using a 20 by 20 tarpaulin as the base, a series of concentric circles were drawn, then outlined with duct tape. The resulting was five circular pathways that lead to a center area. Participants use an entrance at the edge of the labyrinth, then make their way to the center and back along the same path.
An informational handout at the labyrinth site notes the tool can be used in whatever way a participant chooses. Some may stop and pray along the pathways or at the center. Others may use it more as a way to contemplate and meditate. There is no set way in which a labyrinth has to be approached.
Becca Roberts, another Young Adult Volunteer, was at Wallner Hall on Thursday afternoon when the labyrinth was first opened. She was available to answer questions about how to use the labyrinth. Roberts said, “I’ve done several labyrinths in different settings. During the selection process for the YAV program, held at a church retreat center, I walked the labyrinth twice before my interview. It helped get me centered and calm.”
A local participant, on Good Friday, said she found, “the labyrinth was a good way to focus my thoughts. I likened the experience to walking the path to heaven. I think in a natural setting, outdoors, it would be even more helpful to increase quiet and introspection.”
Alex Sprague said, when the labyrinth was completed, “I’m not sure how the labyrinth will be received, for most locals it’s a totally new concept about worship.” The labyrinth was put into storage at the end of Good Friday. Sprague said, “I hope it will be set up again next year, it may take some time for folks to get comfortable with the idea.”
Labyrinths are used year round, not just during Holy Week. If you missed doing the labyrinth this year, maybe there’ll be opportunities during the rest of the year, or next Holy Week, to experience this ancient tool to focus, pray and worship.
