It is that time of year again when you might notice the unusual pattern of growth on the Chapel Lawn. This is not an alien crop formation, but rather a carefully crafted Labyrinth for which we thank Graeme Martin, our Head Groundsman.

A Labyrinth is an ancient symbol that was appropriated by the early Church and used to represent pilgrimages or journeying. Today, Labyrinths are used to reflect, to centre ourselves, to experience gratitude, or simply to take some time to ‘be’.

A Labyrinth is not a Maze. When you walk a labyrinth there are no decisions or choices to make, as the path leads simply in seven arches to the centre. Following that journey, you then retrace your steps back to the start.

At the College, we use the Labyrinth as part of our Year 12 Christian Education Programme. The students first watch the movie ‘The Ultimate Gift’, which explores issues around the important gifts in life that we might experience. They then walk the carefully mown paths of the Labyrinth. As the students walk, they discover stones that prompt a moment of reflection to think about: The gift of work, the gift of money, the gift of learning, the gift of problems, the gift of family, the gift of joy, the gift of giving, the gift of gratitude, the gift of a dream, the gift of time and the gift of love.

At each station, students are encouraged to pause to offer a prayer, to reflect and give thanks, to acknowledge how hard something is, or to experience hope for the future. Alternatively, it might be that they wish to focus on something in particular as they walk – and then ‘leave’ that issue ‘behind’ at each stone.

The students may also choose to leave all their thoughts at the entrance to the Labyrinth and focus only on what they experience in the Labyrinth – the feel of the wind and the sun, the sounds of the birds in the trees, the colours of the grass, even the sound of the traffic on the road.

This year, more than ever, we have used the Labyrinth to reflect and give thanks, thanks that we are in a safe and pleasant country during these challenging times.

Click here to view the gallery. 

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