Amazing

Christ Church Cathedral here in Vancouver is advertising its "prayer labyrinth" this week.  This is a tradition from around the 12th century where you wander a winding path, contemplating in devotional solitary silence.  Anyone who has spent time with a 1-yr-old knows what it's like to walk in circles, feeling confused and praying, so this seemed like the perfect place to take Pete!  On a glorious sunny day we met up with Hannah on her lunch hour and went inside.

It's fabulous!  All the pews have been cleared and there's a huge canvas laid out upon the floor.  There are, however, a couple of problems.  The labyrinth is way too easy - I completed it the first time.  Also, it doesn't have any walls!  My plan to encourage Pete inside and then have a long, quiet moment of contemplation (and lunch) went awry when he refused to stay inside the lines.  "No," I told him, my voice echoing authoritatively around the silent space.  "You have to go back to the beginning now!"  Other maze-walkers shot me glances of approval and respect.

Always turn right.

High-speed prayer.

Pete proves that maybe there are shortcuts in the devotional life.

Oh, and the blossoms in the city are spectacular at the moment (that's blue sky behind!)