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DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 | maconmagazine.com 51 increase their quality of life. Labyrinths are ancient maze-like creations. Dr. Dan Johnston, a Mercer School of Medicine professor and behavioral psychologist who provides care for oncology patients at Central Georgia Cancer Care, writes on his website, lessons4living.com, about the dedication speech he gave at the park's debut. In that speech, he said that walking offers us the opportunity for reflection, meditation, and a chance to become more aware of where we are in life, and perhaps an opportunity to come to know ourselves for the first time. Johnston further said that labyrinths have many gifts. On the surface, they are beautiful, simple patterns. But slowly walking the path offers to unwind us from a stressful day. And since there are no problems to solve within it, we can relax. This park has these qualities. Its intent is to be a peace site and one for healing. Ending up where you begin is a journey in this space, and as you walk it, the idea is to do it in a contemplative state of mind. Labyrinths are rare finds; having one in Macon at the corner of Orange Street and Rose Street in the historic district across from Mount DeSales Academy is a gift. If gaining inner serenity and finding yourself is what you seek, then The Rose Park Labyrinth is a must-see and do. The potential rewards will make it worth one's while. 4 Fernando La Rosa Memorial Garden Out of pain sometimes comes great beauty. Such is the case with the Fernando La Rosa Memorial Garden on the campus of Wesleyan College. La Rosa was an internationally venerated photographer and notable professor at Wesleyan until his death from cancer in 2017. His wife, Frances de La Rosa, a Wesleyan art professor, painter, and sculptor, was devastated by the loss of her husband of 32 years. But a chance opportunity to heal as she honored her spouse's life in a big way found her, and the result is something to behold. The memorial garden is an entry point to the Arboretum, a biodiverse outdoor space comprised of nature and walking trails with wooden bridges, bubbling brooks, native plants, and wildlife. Looking around the memorial garden gives visitors a chance to look into the lives of both La Rosas. Near the apple tree planted in his honor – the spark of a project that would grow to become a gracious garden full of meaningful artwork – handcrafted benches and tables double as seating and workspaces and invite guests to take a break. An imposing 23-foot-long and 10-foot-high stone wall with an oculus in the center – a nod to a camera lens's aperture – invites guests to gaze through it for a new perspective. This sculpture anchors the garden and was collectively created by La Rosa's wife and other local artists and artisans. "As an artist, I enjoy creating spaces with different feelings," said Frances during a conversation with Macon Magazine. "I wanted people to have the experience of meandering from one environment (designed memorial garden) to another (natural Arboretum)." During construction, people passing by would ask her what it was going to be. Once she explained it to them, many shared stories of loss and the grief associated with it. Those conversations verified in some ways that the project was a necessity for her…and her community. "That was special to me. To have it be a place where others find healing," the Alabama native shared. The memorial garden has that effect. Between it and the wooded paths leading into the Arboretum on the edge of the campus just off Tucker Road, it is indeed a place of peace that also serves as a salve to the soul. 5 Walnut Creek Park "The Ocmulgee River alone is the reason this was our capital city," explained Tracie Revis, Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative Director of Advocacy, Cultural Preservation, and Conservation, when asked about the significance of Walnut Creek Park and its place next to Macon's river. The circled space at the end of one of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park's most popular trails is truly off the beaten path. It begins in the main part of the park beneath the Great Temple Fernando La Rosa Memorial Garden. Photo by Christopher Ian