Graduates Donate to Labyrinth Project
by Laura Lehman Amstutz
Forty people attended a dedication ceremony for the labyrinth held April 29, 2006.
The 2006 graduates of Eastern Mennonite Seminary have donated $1500 as seed money to build a retaining wall, landscaping and seating for the labyrinth currently under construction on the EMU campus.
How is a Labyrinth Used?
The labyrinth will assist students and campus visitors in Christian meditation and prayer. In the Middle Ages the labyrinths were used as a way for people to participate in a pilgrimage without the expense or time required in actually going to another place. Labyrinths were created on the floors of cathedrals to help draw people into meditation.
A labyrinth helps direct one’s focus toward God. Unlike a maze, which has dead ends and the possibility of getting lost, a labyrinth has a clear path, but it sometimes takes unexpected twists and turns. In this way it resembles the journey of life. As one moves toward the center of the labyrinth the person focuses on letting go of worldly attachments.
Lea Goode-Harris of California created the Santa Rosa design which EMS will be using for its labyrinth.
At the center, the person comes to the center of his or her relationship with God. One may linger in the center of the labyrinth, spending time reflecting on one’s relationship with God and praying.
Eventually, however, the need returns to move out into the world again. As the pilgrim leaves, she or he walks with Jesus back into places of ministry as a renewed person.
The labyrinth will be used in several EMS classes as well as by campus and community visitors.
The Labyrinth at EMS
The EMU labyrinth will be in the Santa Rosa design created by Lea Goode-Harris. Construction of the labyrinth itself is funded by a Lilly grant; however, since the location for the labyrinth is on the side of the hill excavation was necessary to level the site. This created a soil erosion problem.
Wendy Miller tells the story of the labyrinth at a dedication ceremony on graduation weekend.
The retaining wall, landscaping and seating will eliminate this problem and provide a place on the hill for people to sit, meditate and look out across the valley.
Six thousand dollars is still needed to complete the retaining wall, landscaping and seating.
Donate To This Project
To donate to this project contact the development office and enter “labyrinth wall/ landscaping” in the comments area or call 800-368-3383 to make a credit card donation over the phone. Fundraising for this project will end May 31.
For more information on the labyrinth project, visit www.emu.edu/news/index.php/962/seminary.
