<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">A Winter Solstice Prayer</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: normal;" class="">The dark shadow of space leans over us. . . . .<br class="">
We are mindful that the darkness of greed, exploitation, and hatred<br class="">
also lengthens its shadow over our small planet Earth.<br class="">
As our ancestors feared death and evil and all the dark powers of winter,<br class="">
we fear that the darkness of war, discrimination, and selfishness<br class="">
may doom us and our planet to an eternal winter.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: normal;" class="">May we find hope in the lights we have kindled on this sacred night,<br class="">
hope in one another and in all who form the web-work of peace and justice<br class="">
that spans the world.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; line-height: normal;" class="">In the heart of every person on this Earth<br class="">
burns the spark of luminous goodness;<br class="">
in no heart is there total darkness.<br class="">
May we who have celebrated this winter solstice,<br class="">
by our lives and service, by our prayers and love,<br class="">
call forth from one another the light and the love<br class="">
that is hidden in every heart.<br class="">
Amen.</p><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Edward Hayes</div>
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