add to the beauty...

In thinking the other day about a change of scenery on my run over in West Seattle, I was reminded of this story and wanted to share it with you. 

There were two men, both seriously ill, who occupied the same hospital room.   Although it was difficult for him, one of the men was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs.  His bed was next to the room's only window.  The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.         

These men talked for hours on end.  They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, and their involvement in the military service, and even where they spent their vacations.  Every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could struggle to sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside that one lone window.

How the man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world!  The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man described. Ducks and swans played on the shimmering water while the children sailed their model boats.  Lovers walked arm in arm amid the blooming flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.  Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with vivid and descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head.

“Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything?” he thought.  It didn't seem fair.  As this thinking fermented, the man felt ashamed at first.  But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour.  He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window, he thought, and this unrelenting notion now controlled his life.  He could not stop thinking about it.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling thinking mean and evil thoughts about the fact that he had no window to enjoy, the sick man by the window began to cough.  He was choking on the fluid in his lungs.  The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help.  Listening to the futile efforts being made, the man across the room never moved, never pushed his own button that would have brought the nurse running.  In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take the body away; no words, and no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look.  Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself.  Finally.  He was overjoyed for now he would see the park, the parades and all the activity that was described to him by his dead roommate.  He strained to sit up and after much effort he slowly turned to look out the window beside the bed.   To his horror, the window was surrounded by a blank cement wall.

The man, beside himself with shock, pressed the button to call the nurse and agitated, he asked "What could have compelled my deceased roommate to describe such detailed and wonderful things outside this window?  There is nothing to see.  Where are all the wonderful things he saw?  Is this a new and recent wall?  Why did he give me such vivid details that don't exist?"

The nurse shook her head sadly and answered his questions with a shake of her head,  “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you and make you happy. You see, your roommate was totally blind”.  

This story reminds me that we really have a choice in what we make of our lives. I marvel at the beauty you two are making there in the hospital there in Pittsburg and pray that you will continue to add to the beauty.  Abby, you wrote this once for Britta's baby girl for a blanket I was making for her. I want to send it your way today and let you know I am praying that you will accept this invitation today, no matter what may come your way. 

"You come with beautiful secrets

You come with purposes written on your heart,

written on your soul

You come to every new morning

With possibilities only you can hold

Add to the beauty

Tell a better story

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful." 

- adapted from "Add to the Beauty" by Sara Groves

Surprise!

My friend Elizabeth's birthday is on Saturday. We already celebrated with several other families in the Methow Valley with the Sunflower Relay, but her actual birthday is May 31st.  And it's a significant marker as it is her 40th.  We are going out of town this weekend so I've been thinking about a fun way to surprise her on a run sometime this week. I had the idea of getting 40 flowers and having them along the way while we ran.  But the thought of making her carry a bouquet of 40 flowers did not seem like the best gift. Then I simply thought of my old standby of balloons and sidewalk chalk somewhere along the way since those are festive and since those are a bit of a signature for the Huff family. 

I got out the bag of balloons last night fully intending to blow them all up after I put the kids to bed, but Anna and Taylor jumped in to help and to be a part of the fun.  

Jason had been fixing a popped tire on Taylor's bike so the bike pump was out in the living room. Taylor started blowing up balloons with the pump and adding them to the pile. He stopped at 10 and then went back to working on Legos upstairs. 

Then Anna used her mighty lungs and blew up 30 more to make a total of 40 balloons. 

I then tied ribbons around them and put them in 4 huge garbage bags ready to carry down to the bridge the next morning where Elizabeth and I usually meet to go running together. 

Poppy came to explore in the living room to see what the commotion was all about. 

She was quite curious. See below: 

She totally looks like a stuffed animal. :) 

So this morning, I ran about 3/4 mile down to the bridge with 4 giant bags of balloons in hand. Good thing it was 6:10 a.m. and I did not get that many folks staring at me.  One guy on his bike stopped and asked me if this was a new kind of exercise.  I laughed and just told him it was in celebration of a friend's birthday (but he must have been thinking this was a new cross fit workout or something.) :) 

When I got to the bridge, I started tying the ribbons to the railing as fast as I could hoping that I would not get caught.  40 balloons later, I got out the sidewalk chalk and started writing. If I had given myself more time, I thought I could have written "happy" 40 times- but I just wrote it twice and called it good adding some stars and squiggles around the text. 

I ran down the street and found Elizabeth running toward me. Usually, I say to her, "Where do you want to go?" and let her pick the route.  But this morning, I tried to steer her back to the bridge without being too suspicious.  I was so excited to see her expression as I knew she would not be suspecting anything since it is two days before her birthday.  

As we got closer, she just kept saying, "Oh my gosh..."  

This picture is blurry- but it was so funny. This lady said to Elizabeth, "Do you know who this is for? Who is Elizabeth?" And Elizabeth sheepishly said, "It's me!" 

(and at one point, Elizabeth said, "And you're not even a morning person! When did you get here?!" ) 

 selfie by the balloons on the bridge 

(Taylor commented when he saw this picture over breakfast 

 that I had some nice bags under my eyes. 

Thanks for noticing, buddy.) 

The reason I chose this bridge is that this seems to be OUR bridge. 

Like I said, it's where we meet most times when we go running together and it makes me so happy that we live so close that we can meet in the middle on this bridge over this beautiful park. 

(I wrote about a story that took place in this park to you back in March).  

I still am pinching myself that God has shown me such 

amazing grace in this dear friend over so many years.  

And it just seemed like a fun way to start the day 

with 40 balloons on the pedestrian bridge. 

As I was running back to the house, I was praying for you two that there might be some surprises along the way for you today in the hospital that make you laugh and that would be simple reminders to you that you two are loved. 

I'll ask Taylor to blow up another balloon with the bike pump in your honor after school. :) 

Change of Scenery

I had an observation for one of my student teachers this morning over in West Seattle.  I decided to bring my running shoes and run over in that neighborhood for a change after I was done this morning at the school. In some ways, I felt like I had taken a trip to San Diego as the terrain is so different than our neighborhood-- not too bad for an extra 10 minute detour from my usual route home from this school.   I ran along the beach for an hour or so and it was such a gift to have this change of scenery.  As I ran, I soaked up the beach time and prayed that you two would also get a change of scenery sometime soon from the confined walls of your hospital room. 

ferry boat in the distance 

Seattle Space Needle in the distance in this picture 

a sweet reminder of the mantra that "two are better than one" 

This was my favorite. I saw this tree along the sidewalk where I was running and it reminded me of the amazing support you all are to one another right now.  Check out the supports propped up here to provide the support needed for this tree to keep growing.  

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

the 27th

On the 27th of each month, Jason and I celebrate (with a letter to one another in a notebook we pass back and forth, a kiss on the cheek, raising a glass at dinner, or just a simple "Happy 27th" in passing...) as we were married on July 27, 1996. So, when the 27th rolls around each month, we mark the day in a small way. We do this with the kids on their birthday dates. (Anna claims the 13th, Taylor claims the 23rd, etc.)

So, on this 27th of May, I wanted to share with you a fabulous post that I read to Jason.

"If I have learned anything at all this year, it’s that marriages never get better on accident, and they never get better on leftovers.

I chatted with a new friend in Nashville last week. She asked my advice on marriage. She’s a newlywed with a busy career, and she was telling me that she wanted to be a good wife, but it was so hard to keep the house clean and learn to cook, etcetera. She was feeling so much pressure to cook and clean, as though those are the chief requirements of marriage-building. I said, hold on: Don’t worry so much about cooking and cleaning. Cooking and cleaning never built a marriage. But listening and memory-making and looking each other in the eye will. Make time to be together, to go on dates and bikes rides and listen to each other. That’s what we’re learning to do, especially in busy seasons. It’s what carries us through those busy seasons.

Confession: when I’m stressed, the to-do list becomes king. Cooking and cleaning are tangible ways for me to care for my family, and I default to those things—if everyone’s in clean clothes and well-fed, I must be holding things together, right? But marriage isn’t about a well-executed to-do list, and Aaron would much rather eat takeout and hunt around for a clean basket of laundry if that means I put down the list and really, really listen to him.

All of the above, of course, would be lovely—cooking and cleaning AND listening and memory-making. Maybe we’ll get there someday. But along the way, what I’m learning is that being connected in a deep way is so much more valuable than being well-organized, efficient, buttoned-up and tidy. I default to tidy when what my husband wants and needs more than anything is laughing and listening and playing, being with instead of being efficient. I’m learning.

The next two months are busy for our family—lots of traveling, mostly not together. The Practice is still a newborn, requiring attentiveness and loads of time. Last week I left for Nashville, and then Aaron left for Seattle, and then we had a houseguest and hosted a party. You get the idea.

What we’re learning is that what binds us back together isn’t catching up on laundry and bill-paying. That’s what we used to do—I thought that catching up on the business side of life would give us what we needed most in seasons like this.

What puts us back together isn’t business. It’s intentional, connected time together. It’s dates, where I put on heels and perfume, and he wears a tie and we hold hands and talk and talk and talk. We’re learning that making that time and pushing ourselves out of the house even when we’re tired is so good for us, because it reminds us that we’re living a love story, not running a small business together. It reminds us that part of love is taking the time to listen to the tiny details of someone else’s life and genuinely care about them.

I’m trying on the laundry, hoping to have it all cleaned and folded and back in the drawers before I leave again on Thursday. But we took the first little window of time that we could find—last night—and we went to a little French restaurant for mussels in white wine and olives and baguettes. We dropped the boys off at my parents’ house, and we held hands in the car. We talked about our respective trips, and what we’re praying for these days. We talked about what we want for the summer and what we’re reading and what we’re learning.

Because marriage isn’t a business, co-owned and managed. It’s a love story, something we’re writing every day. We’re learning all over again this year that the most important things we can give our marriage are time and romance and memory-making, kissing and laughing and writing a love story. Like I told my newly-wed friend, laundry can wait, but a love story needs to be written a little bit every day."  http://www.shaunaniequist.com/laundry-love-stories/

So, Abby and Jens, as you all take life one day at a time with hospital procedures, recovery walks, etc, I wanted to share this with you and to encourage you that you too are writing a love story- not just managing a double lung transplant together.  And, it's so beautiful to read your reflections and to catch a glimpse of the ways you are loving each other in this stressful time.  I'm just sending you this as an encouragement to keep on loving, listening, looking each other in the eyes, and making memories together (even in a hospital room.)  

Somewhere over the Rainbow

This morning was the Emerald City Run and it was a BALL!  I wore my friend Kim's Glinda dress for the event to honor the good witch that she is and the fight she has won against breast cancer this past year. 
Carrying a wand and holding the dress up were an added workout, but it was totally worth it and such fun running here in Emerald City on this fine morning.

While I was running, I was also thinking of you two there in Pittsburg as you all have become my daily companions during this season of training. Runners were given a medal of courage at the finish, and it was clear to me that this belongs to you.  Your two walks yesterday in the hospital are EPIC and your courage is inspirational as you work so hard each day to heal and get back on your feet with you new lungs. 

Be looking for a little care package with your medal next week from Emerald City! 

a look back...

While I was in the mode of going through pictures for Taylor's birthday slideshow, I also was digging for some old favorites from years gone by. These are a few that made me smile... 

Giving thanks for so many years of sharing life together... 

Here's a toast to sharing many many more with you all! 

Hospital Cheer

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the message you sent from the hospital today!! 

Giving thanks for the amazing gift of cheer sent from the miracle man with the new lungs 

and his amazing superhero fiancé... 

 http://youtu.be/vT53XX1T1pE

joie de vivre!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxBc6zVhElE

RadioLab

I listened to this podcast from NPR (http://www.radiolab.org/story/91710-limits-of-the-body/) and was fascinated by this:

"Jad and Robert talk to two Ironman competitors, Julie Mossand Wendy Ingraham to find out how they do what they do. Physiologist Dr. David Jones tells us how to trick the voice in your head that tells you you're exhausted. Then we follow two men, Patrick Autissier and Jure Robic, as they bike across the country as fast as they can in a crazy race called The Ride Across America. Producer Lulu Miller brings us their story and New York Times writer Daniel Coyle walks us through the process of physical and mental breakdown RAAM competitors face." 


One of the stories is about Julie Moss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbWsQMabczM

Who is Julie Moss?

"Hawaii Ironman may have been started by a group of fiercely athletic military men, but not all pioneer triathletes are hard core sporty folks. Julie Moss is one such example. Then a graduate student in 1982, her passion was surfing. But aside from this, she was not really into competitive sports.

She flew to Hawaii for two reasons. First, she wanted to experience firsthand the rigors of this race for she was doing a thesis on the training and physiological requirements of endurance sports. Second, joining the Hawaii Ironman was her way of bonding with her then-boyfriend Reed Gregerson, a triathlete. As it would turn out, her participation in the race will prove to be pivotal, both for her and for the sport of triathlon.

Race preparation

Moss firmly believes that she works most efficient when under pressure. So instead of going into training as soon as she and Gregerson signed up, she didn’t start until 20 weeks from the race. Her first plunge into training was a half-Ironman triathlon in Santa Barbara, California in September 1981, where she did fairly well. She then proceeded to join the December 1981 Oakland marathon, one that ended in disappointment after experiencing exhaustion and dehydration at mile 20 of the course.

She almost decided not to pursue the big race when on Christmas eve, Gregerson broke up with her. Though devastated, the desire to graduate was more urgent. After all, her mother who works as a teacher and put her through school single-handedly had already put a lot of money into her Kona race. So instead of sulking, she did a race in Mission Bay in San Diego, California in January 1982 to further prepare.

Two weeks before race day, she flew to Hawaii where she stayed at least 35 miles from Kailua-Kona. Intending to utilize the remaining one week to ramp up her performance on the bike, she decided to add said commute distance to her planned bike training, which overall amounted to almost 400 miles the week before race.

Race day

Moss was among the group of leading women when she emerged from the water after 1 hour and 11 minutes. Donning a Lycra skinsuit someone sourced for her instead of the usual bike shorts and tank top she initially planned to wear, she finished the second leg in 5 hours and 53 minutes. While transitioning to the marathon phase, Moss’ bra strap broke. She pleaded with a volunteer to lend hers, which the latter reluctantly surrendered.

She was trailing marathon leader Pat Hines, a professional cyclist and a member of the first ever elite triathlon group Team J David, during the third leg. However, a few miles into the run, Hines dropped out due to severe leg cramps. Moss only became aware that she was leading the race about 8 miles from finish although news crews on helicopter and camera van have already been tailing her after Hines’ departure.

Six miles from finish, Moss would start to deteriorate. She’d labor from aid station to aid station, occasionally asking those near how far her closest opponent was, who turned out to be elite athlete Kathleen McCartney of Team J David. Though she joined the race with no ambitions of winning it, it all changed when she became the marathon’s forerunner.

Running only on bananas and water the whole day as well as lacking rest pre-race, her legs would start to give in one mile from finish. She would fall a handful of times yet still be able to maintain her lead. But as she was nearing the finish line, she would stagger and buckle and eventually would be unable to hold her legs up.

Though well meaning spectators rushed to her aid, she shooed them away for she didn’t want to get disqualified. Finally, 10 yards from finish, with only her arms having their strength, she started to crawl. As she was struggling her way through the crowds, McCartney, who had no idea about Moss’ plight, ran past and claimed the women’s first prize. On all fours, Moss would plod through and crawl and cross the finish line 29 seconds after McCartney.

Moss may not have gotten first prize, but her indomitable spirit was captured on camera. The race, which is by far the most dramatic and remarkable in Hawaii Ironman history, would eventually be shown on Wide World of Sports and inspire thousands to take up the sport of triathlon."  http://triathlonfacts.com/famous-triathletes-julie-moss/  

The reason I am sharing this story is because the podcast is totally worth listening to. Also, it seemed to be a great story to share to celebrate Jens' 150 foot walk and as a way to send cheers to you all in this amazing feat and miracle.  Continuing to pray for stamina and perseverance with each step (even if everything tastes like metal right now.) 

Astrid Goes for a Spin

Just for fun, you've got to listen to this today 

as it was on my playlist when I had the music set to random.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV-Ud2Lr9L4

It's a wild ride for sure that you two are on!! Hold on. :) 

10,000 reasons

This was the song that we sang on Sunday morning at church 

on the first day that you had your new lungs.... 

The past few days (and especially this morning when I was running),

 this song has continued going through my mind.  

So I offer it to you with a heart full of thanks 

for the new day that dawned today, 

for new breaths, 

for all the amazing grace that has happened in Pittsburg over the last few days..... 

There are indeed 10,000 reasons for us keep on singing... 

The Breath of God Within Us

My mom and I both have subscribed to the Henri Nouwen daily emails. When I shared with her the latest news yesterday about the update of the surgery, she had just seen this email that was in her email inbox. Perfect timing indeed.  How incredible that the breathing tube was taken out yesterday and that things are looking good....

The Breath of God Within Us When we speak about the Holy Spirit, we speak about the breath of God, breathing in us.  The Greek word for "spirit" is pneuma, which means "breath."  We are seldom aware of our breathing.  It is so essential for life that we only think about it when something is wrong with it. The Spirit of God is like our breath.  God's spirit is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves.  We might not often be aware of it, but without it we cannot live a "spiritual life."   It is the Holy Spirit of God who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy.  It is the Holy Spirit who offers us the life that death cannot destroy.  Let us always pray:  "Come, Holy Spirit, come."  -Henri Nouwen

the lifter of your head...

I wanted to share with you another thing that came to mind on my run yesterday morning. 

Two weekends ago, I helped plan a day retreat for some moms in our neighborhood.  We got to go up to Snoqualamie Pass to a beautiful cabin owned by a family that one of our neighbors knew.   

Our retreat leader started the time together reading the passage about Jesus healing the woman crippled for 18 years.  

Her is the passage from Luke 13...Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

"10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God." 

She led us with the Lectio Divina approach.  First she asked us to listen for a word or a phrase that stood out to us.  We all shared different words:  immediately, could not straighten up at ALL, for 18 years, Jesus saw her, called her, set free, put his hands on her, straightened up, praised God! 

Then she had us imagine we were right there in the synagog with Jesus, hunched over, just looking at the group, and straining to see him as it would be difficult to see hunched over.  

I immediately thought of you, Jens.  The woman would have had a very hard time breathing too being hunched over for so long.  It would have been hard for her to lift her head. 

It reminded me of a verse in Ps 3:3: "But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."  This image of Jesus gently calling forth, touching her and lifting her head so that she can stand straight was powerful.   

Jens, I thought of this again yesterday on the run, and it seems so appropriate on the day of your surgery. Your journey has not been 18 years- but 32... What I love about this story is that Jesus came to this woman. She was not one of the ones asking for healing like so many stories in the Bible. He SAW her and moved toward her and healed her.  She did not even have to ask for it. 

This fits your day yesterday too- you all were not expecting the call so soon. Abby shared with me that when you were listed that your score was low and that you'd probably be waiting a few months. And even with that, they told you to prepare for the emotional low of not getting the lungs. 

And then yesterday, God saw you, moved toward you and gave you new set of lungs.  He is the lifter of your head.  I am praising God for the amazing gift that came yesterday and through the night with your surgery. I am praying for your continued healing and freedom. I am praying for the time when we will share tears of joy with you when you are off the ventilator and you get to breathe with your new lungs.  

 

 

 

keeping vigil...

as the surgery continues...

as you wait... 

I am keeping vigil out here in CA... 

May the breath of God fill your lungs.... 

thoughts and prayers from a 20 mile run today

I woke up early to get ready to head out the door for my 20 mile training run 

and got these texts just before I left...  

The first lines from this song "You are my God" came to me as I first started running and praying for you in the hospital in the first few miles: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEOdTas5eUk&noredirect=1

---

Breathe in breathe out

That's all that I can do now

Hold on somehow

My world has come crashing down

And I cannot understand

How this could be your heart

Still I'm lifting trembling hands

Help me trust in who you are

You are my God

Here in the darkness in the night

You have never left my side

You are my God

Even when I can't see your face

I know I'm held in your embrace

You are my God

I'm weak I'm torn

My tears like rain fall to the floor

But peace my lord

You have whispered in this storm

And this is still your plan

That you would have my heart

Help me rest in who you are

Where else can I go

And who else can I turn too

Your word is eternal life

And I'm not letting go

I'm holding on to you

Greater than all the world combined

Let everything else be left behind

You are my God

I long to be lost in your embrace

I'm turning my eyes up to your face

You are my God

I was simply starting to pray that in this day that you both would be able to breathe out and breathe in  one breath at a time knowing that a lot is ahead today... 

sun shadows on the Bay Bridge 

selfie at 7:30 am

Right at 8 am, I stopped to take this picture of my watch and my phone as I knew you told me that around 11 am your time (eastern time which was 8 am pacific time)

 that the lungs would be coming from the donor.  

 The chorus of this song that we sang at our church in Knoxville 

kept going through my mind: 

God of mercy, hold us in love.

1.     In peace, in peace, we pray to you:

2.     For peace and salvation, we pray to you:

3.     For peace between nations, for peace between peoples:

4.     For us who are gathered to worship and praise you:

5.     For all of your servants who live out your gospel:

6.     For all those who govern, that justice might guide them:

7.     For all those who labor in service to others:

8.     Grant weather that nourishes all of creation:

9.     Keep watch on our loved ones and keep us from danger:

10.  For all the beloved who rest in your mercy:

Help us comfort us, all of our days:

Keep us hold us, gracious God. 

I think that long runs have a lot of space and time for repetition and so I kept praying, "God of mercy, hold Abby and Jens in your love..." 

and this is just comic relief that I had to send you... 

After running over the bay bridge, I ran over to Merritt Lake where they have Fairyland in Oakland (apparently, this is where Walt Disney got his inspiration for Disneyland)

another really cheesy selfie just to give you some more comic relief

a lamp to light the way around the lake... 

I also ran by a labyrinth by an Episcopal church on the way back to my brother's apartment. 

"Your life is a sacred journey. And it is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path... exactly where you are meant to be right now... And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love."
Caroline Adams

We are all on the path... exactly where we need to be. The labyrinth is a model of that path.

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The Labyrinth represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools.

A labyrinth is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience. We can walk it. It is a metaphor for life's journey. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place and takes us out of our ego to "That Which Is Within."

Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. When most people hear of a labyrinth they think of a maze. A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind alleys. It is a left brain task that requires logical, sequential, analytical activity to find the correct path into the maze and out.

A labyrinth has only one path. It is unicursal. The way in is the way out. There are no blind alleys. The path leads you on a circuitous path to the center and out again.

A labyrinth is a right brain task. It involves intuition, creativity, and imagery. With a maze many choices must be made and an active mind is needed to solve the problem of finding the center. With a labyrinth there is only one choice to be made. The choice is to enter or not. A more passive, receptive mindset is needed. The choice is whether or not to walk a spiritual path.

At its most basic level the labyrinth is a metaphor for the journey to the center of your deepest self and back out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are. http://www.lessons4living.com/labyrinth.htm

This is something I came across a few months ago that also referred to labyrinths: 

Pilgrimage by Wilma Wagenaar

High windows and walls, whispering silence, welcoming light – we have arrived.

Our journey takes us over the motorway, through the suburbs of Tilburg, deeper and deeper into Brabant’s countryside. Under a viaduct we go, over a small bridge, along a country road, through the convent gate. Across garden paths, via long tiled corridors, we eventually enter the heart of the Saint Joseph Chapel, the sacred space where the life of prayer of the Trappist monks of the abbey of Koningshoeven runs its course.

On the wooden floor, polished by generations of devout feet, lies a labyrinth of chamomile and bedstraw, picked by hand, carefully arranged in curving ledges and lines. The labyrinth symbolizes the road the pilgrim must travel. In medieval devotion it was an instrument of meditation and prayer. The distance to the centre seems short, but the path towards it is full of bends and turns. At one moment we may be close to the heart of the maze, then again we move away from it. Our eventual arrival is certain, if only we persevere. But we need this process of detours to strengthen our faith in our life’s goal and deepen our commitment. We do not get discouraged when we see that close to the end we are given yet another length to cover, but trust that this extra stretch will also bring us extra grace.

The fragrance of the herbs is strong and earthy – the scent of verges and fields in summertime. Yet the elusiveness of that scent is a symbol for the invisible that is absolutely, inescapably, present.

The location for this work is well chosen. The installation would not have worked as well in a business or museum environment. But here it enters into a dialogue with the surrounding Saint Joseph Chapel: travelling through the labyrinth, roaming through life, the pilgrims may know heaven close, their path part of a universe created and directed by God. 

Psalm 121 wells up: ‘From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’

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I think it was meant to be that I saw a labyrinth towards the end of my run as it is symbolic of the twists and turns along the way for you two over the last few years... I sensed the Spirit saying.... "Persevere. Press On... Don't get discouraged." 

There is momentum, adrenaline, and movement today... 

I'll continue to be one of your biggest cheerleaders as the journey continues. 

Hope some of this resonates this morning... Know that you all were tied up in my shoelaces today and I will keep asking the God of mercy to hold you in His love... 

got this picture on Facebook when I got back to my brother's apartment after my run this morning 

know that I am continuing to hold you two close today....