Contemplations

"Wouldn't it be great if people could get to live suddenly as often as they die suddenly?" ~Katherine Hepburn

I spent a few days this week alone, trying desperately to figure out what my next step should be. Reading, some, yep, can't deny that. Silly, silly trash, that I will pick up as brain candy reads. I also walked a labyrinth, several times, doing walking meditation. While I found that somewhat soothing, it was supposed to answer questions for me and it did not.

I spent no small amount of time contemplating belief. Labyrinths were around before Christianity, according to what I read about them. Scandinavian sailors would walk labyrinths that were angled to face the sunset at the summer solstice to insure a good catch and safe passage. The Catholics, who co-opted and attempted to incorporate many pagan beliefs into Catholicism, encouraged followers to pray the rosary while walking labyrinths.

I remember hearing an NPR report sometime in the 90s about old cathedrals discovering labyrinths hidden under floors of sanctuaries when they attempted restoration or refurbishment. The trend then was to allow them to be used again. I've never walked one before this week, though.

There was a suggested meditation for this labyrinth, which was slightly spiritual, but wasn't religious. Each time I walked it, I couldn't help but think, "This is stupid. Who believes this shit, anyway?" The repetitive motion of walking the circles was soothing, but didn't provide the answers I was hoping for or perhaps expecting.

But I did have several moments while walking and thinking that were flashes of insight, bursts of creativity. I saw Katherine Hepburn's quote above on Google, and it seemed to fit so well with all that I've been thinking. One of my favorite movies of all time is The Shawshank Redemption, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. Freeman has a monologue at the very end of the film, where he says, "...get busy livin' or get busy dyin'." The entire monologue tears me up, every time.

So, life? What are you going to throw my way next?