Editor: The following essay appeared in the January 16, 2025 edition of the Hull Times
One of my favorite local places to walk is Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham. No matter what time of day you visit, it is always quiet, and the paved paths make walking easy.
On a recent visit, I walked the labyrinth in the woods for the first time. As I was walking and trying very hard not to fall, I realized that walking this labyrinth was a metaphor for life, and as we embarked on the new year, it was a time of reflection.
Labyrinths date as far back as the Bronze Age, but at that time, they were a series of caves that were often used to house prisoners or other items one did not wish to be discovered. Later, labyrinths began to appear on the floors of cathedrals, and although their actual purpose is unclear, they were sometimes used for walking and saying prayers, which is the modern usage today.
Modern times have seen a resurgence in labyrinths and their construction. The World Labyrinth Locator—yes, there is such a thing—lists approximately 6,000 labyrinths around the world in private properties, libraries, schools, gardens, and recreational areas, as well as famous temples and cathedrals. In addition to the Glastonbury Labyrinth, the Located lists the Veterans Affairs Campus in Brockton, Boston College, and an indoor Labyrinth at the Old Ship Church in Hingham Center.
The Glastonbury Labyrinth is fascinating. Constructed of stones and formed in the classical four-axis pattern, one enters and then follows the paths around the circle. I am not sure if it is by design, but the narrow construction of the paths forces the walker to pay very close attention to every step to not stumble. The path is so narrow in several places that it is almost impossible to pass.
This is where the connection to life comes in. When things in our lives are going well, life provides wide paths for us to walk on, and we do not have to be concerned about stumbling. But then there are those times when the path closes in because of difficulties we might be having. These are the times when we must pay closer attention to each step or even reach out to someone who can guide us.
In my experience, those times on the narrow path also force me to focus my attention on my spiritual life, and I turn to prayer. The contemplative action of paying closer attention to what is around us, where my feet are, what I am looking at, and where my thoughts are becoming increasingly more important. But should these times of deep contemplative thought only be for those times when things might not be going as planned?
When the path is wide and free of obstruction, we tend to walk upright with our gaze upward. Maybe we have a smile on our faces, and we might greet those we encounter on our path. But when the path begins to narrow, and obstacles are placed in our way, our gaze naturally turns downward, and we might furrow our brow as we spend more time concentrating on where our feet are falling.
The start of a new year allows us to hit the reset button, end something, and begin something new. If the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that we need to slow down and take time, pay closer attention to what is around us, smile more at the others we encounter, and spend more time in contemplation.
