Pastor's Blog
October 25, 2010
by Katie Lindberg on 10/26/10
This last weekend's Labyrinth experience proved to be transformational for me. I don't like to use words like "transformational" -- especially about my own life -- but it's the only word that works here.
Why?
I've been discouraged about the future of "the church." Everyone knows that our numbers everywhere are declining, and that the younger folks (under 32 or so) are especially disengaged by "religion." When I was in Europe last year and visited the beautiful old churches I saw firsthand how bereft they are of worshippers. It was so heartbreaking! It grieves me, frustrates me, breaks me up, to think that our beautiful sacred spaces may someday be empty of worshippers. Who will hand over a rich and powerful tradition? Who will sing the sacred songs? Who will tell the sacred story?
So, I go into the weekend feeling all discouraged (e.g. I can't even get a "contemporary" worship service going here -- and a "contemporary" service is so yesterday...) I start to walk the Labyrinth feeling all sad and frankly sorry for myself because I can’t seem to make a difference. I was truly pitiful.
Ten minutes into my walk and very present to my sorrow, I look over and see the beautiful white "rose" flower in the center of the labyrinth. It looked to me like the hand/heart of God present and welcoming there in the center of all of us, all our lives, all our world. I realized instantly that God was never going to go away.
Suddenly it felt like God was praying in me and this is what I heard:
Our institutions may change (some parts may die), but God will not change or die, and God will certainly never let us go. God will find a way for us to tell the sacred story to the next generation. I may not see how yet, but God does. And God will guide us if we let it happen.
Then I looked around the room. We were in the old sanctuary of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The building was bought by the Methodists a decade ago and generously "repurposed". It now houses our community Boys and Girls Club. The old sanctuary is a new gym for kids to play in after school.
But that night the old sanctuary was a worship space again. The pews had long ago been removed, so the room was large enough to hold a 36" Labyrinth. The stained glass windows were still there. The lovely painting of Jesus in the Chancel, still there. And there were upwards of fifty men and woman from all kinds of backgrounds walking their prayers together.
Prayer was happening. God's community of love was coming together, albeit in a new way, a new time, a new place. God was recycling, repurposing, and "making all things new."
The experience floored me and literally brought me to my knees. And I have felt hopeful and courageous ever since.
Change will come to our church(es). It will not be easy, but God will show the way.
S/he just gave me a glimpse last weekend.
October 12, 2010
by Katie Lindberg on 10/13/10
In eleven days we will hold our first labyrinth workshop at St. John's. I am excited but also a little nervous. (The funding for this 2 day event comes from the Lilly Foundation. We received funding from them for a year-long look at "Body Prayer", using the labyrinth, yoga, and liturgical dance/signing to music.)
Excited
A labyrinth walk gives people a chance to enter sacred time--a sense of timelessness, really. It calms the chaos of the mind. It provides an opportunity to experience a "resting" in love. It helps restore the soul.
I am excited about this because daily I hear people speak of their anxiety and restlessness, fatigue, yearning for beauty and order...a longing to feel more at peace both within and without. Since a labyrinth walk can help with all these things, I want to give people a chance to experience it. And I am looking forward to being led (we have a workshop leader coming from Indy) for a change.
Nervous
But I am nervous too. What if nobody comes? (Okay, I know some are coming, but what if only one or two???) I always worry about this. Every time I host a party I fear that no one will come! Irrational, I know, but most fears are.
I also know that God is in charge of making this happen. Not me. So, time to trust, time to trust, time to trust.
Hopeful
I see labyrinths and labyrinth walks as a way to touch people who may be "spiritual" but not "religious" (they believe in the divine, but reject organized religious institutions.)
The labyrinth experience is a way for people to meet God despite their resistance to church. It is a non-threatening way to reach out to a hungry world and offer spiritual food.
