The Long Now

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV) 

In southwest England, Cornish folk once practiced a craft called hedging: building structures with stones laid compactly against each other, like books in a bookcase or soldiers in tight ranks. They topped these structures with turf, so that in spring they’d come alive with wildflowers, all color and joy. Hedged buildings are so stable, they can last thousands of years.  

It’s a disappearing craft, but Will Coleman hopes to revive it. He’s constructing a hedge-built labyrinth 215 feet in diameter, each section featuring a different local stone and hedging style. Hundreds of people have worked on it, learning as they go.  

Many more send donations to fund one yard of labyrinth wall and leave a message on a little plaque. “A yard of wishes, a hedge of hope for my Cornish grandchildren,” one reads.  

The labyrinth is open to visitors now, but it’s not quite finished. Coleman says it’ll take about 100 years to be done to his complete satisfaction, another 1,000 to fully mature. 

“This project is about the long now,” he said. “In a few hundred years somebody might come across it and see that someone cared. It’s not for us, it’s for those yet to be born.” 

He might as well be a medieval stonemason building a cathedral. They also relinquished the consolation of outcomes. They were building something to outlast them.  

As does anyone who nurtures children. As does anyone who knows that suffering is endless and bandages a wound anyway. As does anyone who plants a seed of justice in depleted and despairing soil. 

We won’t see it, that new world with flowers in its hair we’re building now. But someday someone will thrive in it and know we cared.  

Prayer
God, let me serve without the consolation of outcomes. Let me build to outlast me.

About the Author
Mary Luti is a long time seminary educator and pastor, author of Teresa of Avila’s Way and numerous articles, and founding member of The Daughters of Abraham, a national network of interfaith women’s book groups.