Epiphany’s Glass Labyrinth designed by Sr. Larraine

This article originally appeared in the January 2010 issue of The Epigram.

God’s Timing . . . . Not Ours

by Mary Bratton

How many times have I wished for something to happen on my time schedule, and then disappointedly felt MY wishes had been ignored by my heavenly Father!!

The labyrinths that we have at Epiphany both were affected by that way of thinking, bringing them to creation in our church. As the story goes, back in 1997, Lisa Scherer and her husband Bob celebrated their anniversary by visiting San Francisco. Prior to their visit, they were introduced to the labyrinth by Sr. Josette. Lisa and Bob walked one at Grace Cathedral. The Cathedral had one inside and one outside. Lisa can remember passing her husband on the labyrinth, as she was praying, wondering what her husband was thinking as he passed her praying his own individual prayer. She knew he had cancer. She wondered where God would take the two of them, as they travelled their life paths. The next two years had lots of trials, lots of prayers, and then God took Bob to his eternal home.

Donations were given in Bob’s memory for a labyrinth. A talented Urusline nun from Owensboro responded who was a glass designer. Lisa remembered her as one who had done some beautiful glass work in the chapel at Ursuline’s Louisville campus. A most unique glass labyrinth was completed in 2009 in memory of Bob Scherer and Eugenia Powers, a great “ powerhouse of prayer” for many. A labyrinth to walk on was created first. Many people in our church population put lots of efforts into bringing this to fruition. All had to be approved by the church, and Parish Council.

Lisa tells that it was when she surrendered her own desire, her own wishes, her own time schedule for the labyrinth that it really came to be. It wasn’t anything she could control, or push through. It had to be in God’s timing. Today, we all can use and enjoy the labyrinths tucked close to Ward Ave. on our property, or walk the glass labyrinth with our fingers, if our walking ability is impaired.

It was during her husband’s weakest days of coming to our parish, that the “need” of a glass design was imagined and it was our very own Sister Larraine who was led by the Holy Spirit to create the design.