Taken around 9 AM. The site was already cleared and the gravel base was levelled. The lines for the pavers was spray painted in red.

Church and boy scout volunteers laid the pavers in place and levelled them using sand.

Grey landscaping rock was pushed against the sides of the pavers to hold them in place.

By 3 PM all the block was in place.

A path was added to enter the space.

More and more landscape rock was added and levelled into place.

WOW!

Great job everyone!

Thank you Helen and Health Ministries for the vision of this space and Zac for making it a reality!

The space was dedicated on November 2nd 2008 following service!

In 2009 a peace garden and peace pole were added. Thank you Rock Gardens for the donation of the retaining wall block!

Pastor's Corner for the Shoreview Press, November 4, 2008
Hugh Stephenson, Pastor, North Oaks Peace United Methodist Church

It was a fulfillment of a vision for many people when we dedicated and consecrated a wheel-chair accessible labyrinth near our outdoor chapel on November 2. But others surely had to wonder what all the fuss was about. Why such enthusiasm for these geometric paths on the ground that look like a maze?

Walking a labyrinth is not a rational experience so it is hard to explain its appeal. "Try it, you'll like it." is about the best one can do. But as a labyrinth novice/enthusiast I would like to explain more.

Part of the appeal is in the link with our ancestors. If you think of Jesus living 2000 years ago and Sarah and Abraham, our Hebrew ancestors, 3500 years ago, it is fair to say the use of labyrinths for spiritual experiences is as old as our oldest known spiritual ancestors. And this would be true of every religion and many cultures. These geometric forms have defined sacred space and brought healing and peace to body, soul and mind all over the world.

Though they may look like a maze they are not. A maze will have trick turns and dead ends. You can never get lost in a labyrinth. There are no tricks. Every path will either take you out or take you into the center. When you enter at the gate you are drawn in after many turns to the center. Is this not the nature of the divine? The ground of our being reaches out to us and draws us in to a place of peace and wholeness. From the center you move out again in the rhythm of spirituality. We enter to be close to God, we depart to love and serve the world.

There are fourteen turns in our labyrinth. There are seven turns going in and seven turns going out. Each turn is 180 degrees. It is speculated that the magic lies in turns. Each turn moves us from left to right brain or vice versa. So we cannot walk using only one side of the brain. Therein lies a path to soothing, healing and openness. We walk the labyrinth without a sense of direction but with a security it will take us to a sacred place. In that anticipation dwells the possibility of divine visitation.

I usually walk a labyrinth with the idea that at each turn I will say a part of the 23rd Psalm. And I always do that but I can never say it progressively. Something there is about a labyrinth that does not allow linear progression of my mind. The left brain keeps getting turned off. So I have learned to let whatever portion of the Psalm that comes to mind be my mantra at each turn. I have concluded that what comes to me in that moment is what I need to hear on that day.

It is easy to get dizzy on a circular labyrinth like ours. Looking down and making turns can upset our sense of stability. It is then we need to look in the distance. For me, on a recent walk, that meant looking at Highway 49. I realized there was that world but I was grounded in sacred space. That "real" world had no real appeal in that moment and could be set aside. Looking the other way into the trees, I found myself watched by four wild turkeys. Maybe I have read too much Faulkner, but I saw them as visitors from another world.

The Circle of Peace TM labyrinth at North Oaks Peace Church was designed by Lisa Gidlow Moriarity (pathsofpeace.com). It is available to you anytime the snow is not too deep. Try it. You will like it. It's amazing.