Into the Deep

Hopped in my car and headed to Chestnut Hill. I was intrigued by the many twists and turns I had to make to get to BC and could not help but think that my labyrinth pilgrimage had already begun. I scanned the radio stations and tuned in to a folk radio station that I usually can't pick up in my area. One after another, each song spoke to me about those things that were already on my heart. I couldn't help but smile and wonder what God was up to.

When I arrived at my destiny, I was immediately taken back by the beauty of this majestic campus, but that's an entirely separate blog post.

I really wanted to use the ladies room if possible and noticed a door opened to a Chapel on my left. "St. Mary's Chapel." How sweet, I thought, I knew I was in the right place. After using the potty that was located down and around a few corners, I stopped by the Chapel again to say some prayers. On my way out the door, a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stood there to greet me and give me his blessing

The labyrinth was just across the road so I scooted over to start my prayer walk. The area wasn't that large at all, but amazingly with all of the turns and twists it took awhile to reach the center and back out again. I prayed and tried to remain mindful of anything the Lord wished to speak to me about - I was there for discernment and guidance.

As I walked along I noticed how life too can surprise us with an unexpected change in direction and at at different intervals - our path is never linear. I also noticed that the path brought me closer to the center and at other times further away during my walk. There was nothing I could do to alter this. I could try to take a short cut and hop over on a path that seemed closer to the center, but I noticed there was no guarantee that that very place was any closer, maybe it would even set me back some steps. Strolling along, the hymn, "You are mine.." came to mind,



then a "Hail Mary"

When I reached the center, there were six crosses found in the smaller circular areas of the center - the labyrinth you see modeled here is a replica on the one I walked.



When I first saw the crosses and where they were positioned, this Double Trinity Tulips folk art came to mind. I posted about it several months back.


Double Trinity Tulips





The stylized tulip with its three petals is a dominate feature in Pennsylvania Dutch folk art. It is referred to as the Trinity Tulip and it symbolizes the Trinity as well as faith, hope and charity. The heart in this sign (as well as other Pennsylvania German folk art) is not the heart of sentimental "Victorian" valentines. Rather, it is religious in its representation of the heart of God, the source of all love and hope for a future life. The colors in this heart are used to give them additional meaning. Red symbolizes strong emotion and blue is used to indicate strength, especially spiritual strength. The white background symbolizes purity and the solid black circle represents unity in Christ.

To me, the Trinity is all about relationships.

Later, I walked around the campus soaking up the anointing God seemed to have on this place. It was a glorious experience.

When I returned home, I decided I'm going to purchase weekend passes for a Folk Festival coming up in a few months I heard it advertised on the radio on my way in. I love all kinds of music, and folk captures lots of that. It should be a lot of fun. Now all I have to do is find someone to double the pleasure