I enjoy walking labyrinths. Labyrinths are maze-like structures that have been used as spiritual tools for centuries. There are many of them around, and I am in the habit of trying to visit a lot of them. For more information about labyrinths, check out The Labyrinth Society. Find where labyrinths are in your area at the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator.
I drove to this labyrinth immediately after #41. I was still thinking about questions and meaning.
This labyrinth was in field adjacent to the church building, of 7-circuit classical design with paths of crushed stone and walls of (presumably) local rocks. It was a beautiful quiet spot off the main road in town.
One interesting thing about this labyrinth is the “box” near the middle. I’m not sure what its purpose is, but it was filled with rocks, leaves, and some sort of paraphernalia from a Cub Scout Pack. Perhaps at one point there were flowers growing here? Perhaps it is used to burn small fires sometimes? I don’t know. Interestingly, considering the question I brought to the labyrinth today, it could be seen as a place for burnt offerings.
Anyway, the question I brought into this labyrinth was directed to God: Are you a God of questions? Since I was exploring whether the truest meaning in my life came through asking questions, it seemed a relevant thing to explore: is God in fact a God of questions?
As I walked, I thought of God’s questions to Job from the whirlwind in Job chapter 38: Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain? Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? And so on. I thought of the way God introduced Godself to Moses: I am Who I am, more of a question than an answer, perhaps.
But then I heard more clearly: I am the God who provides manna. I am the God who provides mercy.
And I hear what I thought was God telling me: No. I’m not really a God of questions. But if you are a man of questions, then perhaps that’s how you will interact with me.
As I wrote afterward, I considered taht perhaps God is one who responds to questions. Or at lesat that’s been my experience. But a God of questions? No. God’s identity isn’t there. It’s funny — I thought this was a such a deep and thoughtful question. Turns out it was really rather small. Not meaningless, not at all, just a lot smaller than I expected.
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