Labyrinth Retreat Poem by A.E.J. Jordan

It's taken me almost half a century to realize that I've been mistaken
mistaken about what I had accepted as one of life's most painful, sad realities
the inevitable struggle inherent to all who are part of the human race
Traveling through the labyrinth I remembered something from my childhood
I felt a wave of clarity and then joy....something I never, ever expected would happen
in this field of spiritual design that was hidden in the middle of a forest
I remembered what it felt like to not feel alone
and with each turn in the maze, I gradually recalled how as a child I had felt like I was part of something bigger
like every living thing and being (including me) was connected somehow and universally we formed the world that we live in
and with each passing wild flower that I touched, the memories came flooding back
walking barefoot on the wet grass, with each step, I soon remembered and felt a shift in my heart like it was yesterday
a purple dragonfly following from grass blade to grass blade
seem to accompany me on my journey to help me recall what I already knew
but had forgotten a very long time ago
the crickets cricketing and jumping reminded me that they were there with me
and the wild raspberry bushes left one thorn in my finger
as a symbol of my younger self- a self contained, happy child that played in my family's ravine
back in a time when I had never felt heart wrenching pain
back before I knew what real suffering meant
and most importantly, back before I had ever felt what it felt like to be alone
even when I played alone in the woods behind my house
because I wasn't alone and everything around me was alive and with me and I was a part of it
and every plant and every creature and the wind and the sun and the sky and the stream
everything around me made me feel safe and loved and whole
way, way back before I ever felt what lonely felt like
I had me...myself...and I was my own best friend and part of everything and I was never alone
and I didn't ever feel lonely, just mindfully awake and peaceful and part of all living things
and as I exited the labyrinth, a place where I had rediscovered a long, lost miracle
I promised myself that I would do my very best to never ever forget again
that I am not alone