So much of it is about the journey

A friend recently told me about Labyrinths. I have always seen these outside of churches and never known what they were and never paid much attention. My friend explained to me that it is a metaphor for life. As I walked through I paid close attention to my thoughts and feelings. Recently I found one close to where I live and I find it a very nice place to go and be with God and just have some time of solitude with Him.

As you begin to walk in you go directly by the center (which is the goal to get to) and then shoot out around the circle. It's like you get a glimpse of what is to come and where you will end. As you are walking around and around you are taken all over the path, a path that twists and turns and isn't a straight line to the center. Some turns are long and some quick. One moment you can think you are about to get to the center and then suddenly find yourself across the maze to the other side. I felt a lot of this the other day when it was my second time going through it, but what surprised me was how I felt on my way out. I had reached the center and was ready to be done. The way out though is to continue on the path again. You can't just walk right out. Correction, you can but you'll miss all the time in between if you do. As I left the center I thought to myself "really? I have to walk and do all of this to be done?"

I was amazed at how it really is a metaphor for life. So many times when am in the midst of things I just want to jump to the end, or get a glimpse of it and I think yup I need to be there right now. BUT because I didn't just jump to the center and I committed to the path I got to enjoy God along the way. I got to spend time with God and get heart ready for the center. Also, when we think we've reached the end result have we ever just dropped everything and considered ourselves finished and done? But even when I was leaving the center, God was working on me. Parts that I got bored or lost interest in I had to refocus and go back to where God was leading me.

I find that so often I think about where I am going and just getting there. I've had the thoughts "oh, when I get to this place it'll be okay." "If I just get another job or do something different it'll change." But I've found it's not just about that end result. While the end is sweet. I am finding it is sweeter because of the journey to get there. I'm paying more attention to things along the way and enjoying all of my thoughts and feelings along the way.