When You Come Upon a Labyrinth on Your Walk Home

This fall has been a season of unwinding, of not knowing, of traveling a path of healing: waiting, listening, hoping, weeping, discerning, patience-ing.

The living world is my solace, whether it's walking my dog in the all inviting dark, floating in a lake, or weaving my hands through the lavender plants.

Walking home from yoga class yesterday, I stumbled across a labyrinth behind a hospital. What a delight! Walking her path I felt myself come home, and tried to find the words today to describe the journey in, and in and in - the rest of those arms I can never fall out of.

When You Come Upon a Labyrinth on Your Walk Home

“The deep mercy is the arms you can never fall out of.” - A Sufi saying

Walking,
your gym bag slung
over your shoulder,
you stumble upon a labyrinth.
Your eyes take in
the rows of stones
the benches surrounding the winding flow
the trees offering their birdsong and shade.
You put down your bag and walk the path,
winding in and out, back and forth,
moving towards the center and then away again.
The path holds every step –
even when it seems you're lost,
even when you're spun around
into a new direction. As you walk
you breathe more fully.
Your shoulders drop
Your hands unclench.
You see the light, singing in the branches.
You begin to sense
how your life is a labyrinth –
how it holds and welcomes all of you,
no matter where you are in the turning
no matter if you're moving towards the center
or living in your outer banks
no matter if you're walking or standing still –
no matter whether you're weeping
or resting against a tree. You belong.
Your life belongs. You are whole.

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With a grateful heart, Karly