For at least twenty years, I have enjoyed walking labyrinths. Labyrinths are maze-like structures that have been used as spiritual tools for centuries. For the past seven years, I’ve been walking labyrinths throughout the northeastern United States, and blogging about them. To learn more about labyrinths, check out this page at the Labyrinth Society. To find labyrinths near you, try the Worldwide Labyrinth Locator.

This was the fourth labyrinth I walked in the day. At the previous one, I questioned what I should be trying to learn, trying to do as I re-enter normal life from this self-guided “retreat” I’ve been on. The answer I got from that one was “go slow.” As I drove to this next labyrinth, I wondered where I needed to slow down in my life. I thought that might be my next question.

I arrived at Valley Friends Meeting in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The building reminded me a lot of the Friends Meetinghouse where my wife attended as a child. In fact, she and I were married there. I have fond memories of being in that place, among those people. Quakers (aka Friends) have such a special form of worship – quiet meditation within a group. Ever since I met my wife, I have found worshiping among Quakers to be a meaningful and deeply spiritual experience. It was nice to have these memories.

I walked across the street to the labyrinth. It was a 7-circuit classical pattern, with grass path and rock walls. I entered with the following question on my mind:

Where do I need to slow down in my life?

I am always looking for the answers, I always want to figure things out quickly. I have very little patience when trying to understand things — and I get so frustrated when I can’t. But a lot of important questions might not have answers. Or maybe the answer isn’t as important as the question. And pondering those questions might just lead to greater meaning.

So I want to slow down my desire for answers, for closure, for certainty. And open up to pondering, wondering, waiting hopefully. Maybe answers will come, and maybe that’s good. But maybe the questions are even better.

Reminds me of worshiping in the Quaker style — they make it so much easier to wait, and listen, and ponder, without needing complete understanding. Maybe that’s what my pondering can look like going forward. Maybe it can look a little like Quaker worship.