<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div dir="ltr"><p>A Winter Solstice Prayer</p><p>The dark shadow of space leans over us. . . . .<br>We are mindful that the darkness of greed, exploitation, and hatred<br>also lengthens its shadow over our small planet Earth.<br>As our ancestors feared death and evil and all the dark powers of winter,<br>we fear that the darkness of war, discrimination, and selfishness<br>may doom us and our planet to an eternal winter.</p><p>May we find hope in the lights we have kindled on this sacred night,<br>hope in one another and in all who form the web-work of peace and justice<br>that spans the world.</p><p>In the heart of every person on this Earth<br>burns the spark of luminous goodness;<br>in no heart is there total darkness.<br>May we who have celebrated this winter solstice,<br>by our lives and service, by our prayers and love,<br>call forth from one another the light and the love<br>that is hidden in every heart.<br>Amen.</p><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Edward Hayes</div></div></body></html>