I Made a Prayer Labyrinth in My Backyard

For the past three weeks, I’ve been working on a passion project. It started as a weird idea that wouldn’t go away. Could I build a prayer labyrinth in my backyard?

I mentioned it to my wife, and she didn’t say no (exactly), so the idea grew. I thought at first that I would build a small one in a corner of the yard, but a prayer labyrinth requires some space, so I decided to pull up all my grass and build it where the grass used to be.

A labyrinth is like a maze, but it only has one way in, and you follow the same way out. You can’t get lost. The path typically starts very close to the center but then leads you away in winding switchbacks.  Several times as you follow the path, you pass close to the center but then move further away. When you are as far away as you can get, you suddenly find you have arrived in the center.

Many religions have used labyrinths for various purposes, but Christians began using them as a metaphorical substitute for making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Today, many Christians walk labyrinths as a way to pray and spend time with God. It’s a way to engage your whole body in prayer as you take steps slowly and thoughtfully.

As I walk the path in, I typically talk to God about all my concerns and hopes and unanswered questions. When I get to the center, I spend time there imagining myself spending time with Jesus or the Father or the Spirit or all Three. As I make my way out, I thank God for the time with Him, for answered prayers, for the wisdom He gave me and for anything else I am thankful for, and I ask Him to prepare me to return to my normal life.

In my labyrinth, I planted a peach tree in the center to represent the Tree of Life. I built a large bench in the center, where multiple people can sit and meditate or talk. I inserted about 20 square paving stones along the path, spaced about 20 paces apart. My wife and I are going to mark them with milestone moments in our life together to remind us of how God has guided us, provided for us and protected us over the past 30+ years. I’m also planning to add a few obstacles along the path as a reminder that life sometimes requires us to adapt and work through challenges. It’s still a bit of a work in progress, but I am already enjoying the quiet moments I have spent there.

Some spiritual insights I have had while walking labyrinths:

• You will enjoy the journey more if you put down the heavy things you have been carrying before you start.

• Life is messy and often takes you in unexpected directions.

• Even when you feel you are far from God, He is always near.

• If you walk the path, you will find the center...but you’ve got to walk the path. Taking shortcuts to the center robs you of the joy of the journey.

• Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He walked everywhere. (Author Kosuke Koyama calls Him the “Three-Mile-an-Hour God.”) You are more likely to have fellowship with Him if you walk at His pace.

• Sometimes you see people walking the same path toward God, but they may be further along or further behind. It’s a discouraging waste of time comparing your progress to theirs. Each person has to go at their own pace.

• It is good to take time to rest with God during your journey. It gives you new perspective and prepares you to face life’s challenges.

• When you follow The Way, you often end up where you started but transformed.

There are lots of ways to use a labyrinth. Here are some ideas in case you come across one:

• Think about how the labyrinth can be a metaphor for your personal spiritual journey.

• As you walk in, read or pray through one of the psalms of ascent (Psalms 120-134). These are the prayers Jews would pray on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for holy festivals.

• Sing or listen to your favorite worship songs as you walk.

• Practice Breath Prayers as you walk. This involves saying a short prayer over and over as you breathe in and out. For example, “Jesus, son of David (inhale), have mercy on me (exhale).” (Mark 10:47)

• Carry a rock or something a little heavy on the way in to represent a burden you have been carrying. Leave it at the center with God before you walk out.

• Walk a labyrinth as a ritual to mark important moments and transitions, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, goal achievements, spiritual holy days, job changes, relationship changes, the loss of loved ones, new seasons in your life, etc.

Here are some pictures of my backyard prayer labyrinth:

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  Prayer Labyrinth from right side of the yard

  
  
  
  

  

  Prayer Labyrinth from back side of the yard

  
  
  
  

  

  Prayer Labyrinth from left side of the yard