Welcome Winter!

 

A Winter Solstice Prayer

by Edward Hays
from Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim.

The dark shadow of space leans over us...
We are mindful
that the darkness of greed,
exploitation, and hatred
also lengthens its shadow
over our small planet Earth.
As our ancestors feared death and evil
and all the dark powers of winter,
we fear that the darkness of war,
discrimination, and selfishness
may doom us and our planet
to an eternal winter.

May we find hope
in the lights we have kindled
on this sacred night,
hope in one another
and in all who form the web-work
of peace and justice that spans the world.

In the heart of every person on this Earth
burns the spark of luminous goodness;
in no heart is there total darkness.
May we who celebrate this winter solstice,
by our lives and service,
by our prayers and love,
call forth from one another
the light and the love
that is hidden in every heart.