A labyrinth, seen above under construction, serves as a spiritual exercise for members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Photo Courtesy of Aldersgate United Methodist ChurchÂ
By Emily Silva
Staff Writer
“Every time I walk past it, I get a good feeling,†said Frank Jones, maintenance caretaker at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. His reference was to the most recent addition to the church’s landscape: a labyrinth in the front garden’s clearing.
Church member Gerry Guess funded the creation of the labyrinth in memory of her husband, Harry, after he passed away in January. With the help of N.C. State University students and other church members, Gerry’s vision was made into a reality the entire community can enjoy.
The twisting pathway is an ancient symbol going back more than 3,500 years. It combines the imagery of a circle and a spiral into one set path, lined with small, mondo grass shrubs. A labyrinth’s exact mathematical symmetry is symbolic of the desired balance in life and, as Gerry wished, links the maze-like walkway to religion and spirituality. “A labyrinth is different from a maze,†said Aldersgate Pastor D.L. Evans-Jones. “It guides you.â€
Guidance is what Evans-Jones hopes to find in this new spiritual exercise, for both him and his congregation. “As you walk the labyrinth, let yourself be free to thought and prayer. Try to ignore the distraction of the traffic, because in life we are faced with many distractions and we must remember to keep along our path.â€
A concern of the Aldersgate community was the proximity of the labyrinth to Highway 15-501 (the church is located across from the N.C. Botanical Gardens) and the unpleasantness of traffic noise for labyrinth walkers. But after walking the labyrinth, almost everyone says the noise seems to melt into ambient sound, similar to that of constant running water, and doesn’t distract from concentration at all.
“Even with noise, you can be prayerful,†Evans-Jones said. “It has to do with centering oneself. Center yourself in prayer.â€