Dr. Nancy Bandiera
TLS Publications Chair

On the flight home when all was settled and lights were turned off, I decided to reflect on the Gathering. With eyes closed, I saw the grounds of St. Paul’s Cathedral filled with all of us. We were going up and down stairs; looking this way and that way; turning right and left; moving side to side; making room for others; pausing and looking around; passing and nodding to each other; and simply walking to and fro everywhere on the grounds. In wonderment, I thought, ‘The whole Gathering was a labyrinth!’ With all the hustle and bustle, along with children’s laughter from the playground, I felt as though we were living in a village and we all knew each other!

Reflecting on the diversity of people, I marveled that our exchanges with each other, especially strangers, were so open, warm, and knowing.  I watched the community intimately greeting or leaving each other with silent nods, hugs, tears, a sense of levity, or a verbal response. I couldn’t help but see that the strange had become familiar. The theme of the Gathering became realized in the unity of community. Our shared walks brought a deep intimacy whether we knew each other or not. How profound, I thought! It was like we had a secret to learning and loving each other.  Memories were flooding my air-borne meditation and the children’s playground laughter provided a kind of background music.

In fact, during Lars’ pre-gathering workshop on how to build labyrinths, participants were sitting at tables following many directions. At one point, Lars exclaimed something to the effect of “Hey, everyone, remember this is a meditation.” We all giggled knowing we were getting too noisy. I chuckled my way to re-focusing because I felt like we were children in school. We had started squirming in our seats, playing with our markers, asking the one to our right, our left, and across the table for help, talking, laughing, and calling out for Lars who was dashing between learners around the room. I know I burst out laughing during the memory, and I didn’t care who heard me. In context of our various quests, we were indeed children simply learning!!! 

Then, I recollected somber times as we entered one of the many labyrinths. We were grown-ups with serious adult issues and burdens and worries and fears and problems and questions. I saw that whether we voiced any of our concerns or stayed silent, response was quick. Whether verbal or non-verbal, physical or non- physical, encouragement, kindness, warmth, understanding, and intimacy prevailed by the end of our workshops and walks, complete with exquisitely voiced “thank-you(s)” to the most tender and loving facilitators. Love in motion! I was filled with inspiration rooted in love to share our secret as I sat flying on an airplane in liminal time and space just like the labyrinth. 

Rooted in the air! I realized a special secret of the labyrinth some time ago. Once you embrace the labyrinth and truly allow the labyrinth to embrace you, you live on a daily basis with the labyrinth and become part of the marvelous spiral of this world and beyond.

This New Year, may we be ever mindful of our shared empowerment from renewed insights, appreciations, ideas, motivations, healings, values, and faith—that deep intimacy among diverse populations is possible in building community via the profound grace of the labyrinth!