A labyrinth is an invitation to slow down and connect. Walking the labyrinth can be a peaceful moving meditation, a prayerful journey inward. We are lucky to have one at Desert Mission, and while it’s always available to those who need it, it isn’t always possible to come and walk it. That’s where a finger labyrinth comes in.

As humans, it’s easier for us to have empathy for those in our “in group,” people we consider part of our circle. Given that fact, if we want to bring more empathy and compassion into the world, expanding our circle is a logical step to take. This week, we’d like to offer you a way to do just that: by throwing a virtual dart at a map!

In the musical Cats, the plot takes a back seat to the spectacular choreography. Simplifying a simple story even further, cats are competing against each other through song. Sometimes a cat sings about their own positive qualities, but more notable are the songs in which a cat sings about another cat’s worthiness. And that’s what we encourage you to try – this week, sing someone else’s praises!

We created an incredible word cloud together through our “One Word About Desert Mission” survey! The finished product is posted here. The words folks submitted are a great way of checking in with our mission as a community: to improve people’s lives by becoming the best of who God created us to be. And speaking of improving people’s lives…it’s Labor Day tomorrow, and we’d like you to consider engaging with the holiday in a new way.

Today’s activity was inspired by an improv game, and while it does not require you to perform onstage, it does push you to think creatively and to release any “scripts” you might be leaning on when you pray. We’re calling it “Alphabet Prayer.”