Away to a deserted place...

A central theme of yesterday's Gospel reading (RCL) was finding some peace and quiet in our often hectic lives. Jesus' disciples, having been out beating the bushes in the countryside had come home to share with Jesus all that they had experienced. Because there had been a single focus to their activity, they were quite exhausted. So, Jesus invites them to get away for awhile in a what they hoped would be a quiet, deserted place. But, this was not to be.
If we, Jesus's 21st century disciples, do not have an opportunity for R and R regularly, we will be of no use to him, to ourselves, or to those who love us and whom we love. I know from firsthand experience that this is the case. I was never good at getting away. When I did, I spent so much time in preparation that when I did get away, all that I could do was worry about what was going on while I was away. Something was wrong. As I look back, I wasn't even taking some short time, every now and then, to take a break.
A few years ago, thanks to a friend named Bettye, I discovered the labyrinth. The labyrinth is an age old meditation tool, dating back to before the Common Era. Around the year 1200, labyrinths began to take on a Chrisitian purpose. Things were bad in the Middle East, just like they are now, and the faithful were not able to safely make their pilgrimages to the Holy Land. So, they began to walk the labyrinth.
A labyrinth looks, at first glance like a maze. But there is a distinct difference-a maze has several dead-ends which can confuse you and cause a feeling of desperation to come over you. A layrinth, on the other hand, has but one circuitous path. There is a beginning and an end. This labyrinth (my personal favorite style because there are at least a half dozen varieties) image is (like) the one found on the floor of the cathedral in Chartres, France.
While early Christian pilgrims would often walk the path on their knees (ouch!), I would recommend just taking your shoes off and walking barefooted. I do this regardless of the time of year.
I soon came to realize that the labyrinth was the only place where I could totally block out the world. Even though I often have music playing in the background (Taize, Gregorian Chant, Oriental flute music, etc), it is mainly to drown out other noise. So, I walk in peace, often praying, sometimes talking to God although I am not sure that there is a difference. When I have gotten to the center, I pause for a while and then follow the path back out. I am usually totally refreshed. If you have never walked a labyrinth, I would encourage you to click on the Labyrinth Society button on this page and learn more.
I didn't walk a labyrinth in preparation for my sermon but I did find another quiet place recently as you can see from the final words of that sermon:

A week ago last night, I dropped my daughter off at a friend’s house for a few hours. I hoped to run a few errands but quickly found stores closed, friends not at home. I wondered what to do for the next few hours. I headed towards Catonsville until I came to the Episcopal Convent and Retreat Center. It was quiet there; the sun would soon be setting. Driving up the main entrance, I paused to watch two young deer in the field. I noticed a nun, asleep in a chair beneath some trees. Parking the car, I found a place to sit, read and meditate. I got up and walked through some of their gardens. Time passed and I heard the chapel bells tolling to call the order to the Service of Compline. I decided to wander over to the chapel and sat in the back as the nuns sang their worship. It was a peaceful time, if brief, and when it was over, I walked to the car and slowly drove out, back into the world.
Jesus wants us to be out there in ministry and he wants us to be out there in the deserted place where we can rest. Neither is easy. In fact, both are hard. But he has also promised to go with us. He will go with us and help us and uphold us as we seek to be in a place where we give the gift of our time to others and minister to their needs. He will also be with us when we “come away to a deserted place all by ourselves and rest a while.” Neither place is lonely. Both are places where God is. Amen