"In no heart is there total darkness"

 

Today is the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the northern hemisphere. The beginning of the end of the Big Dark. 

We've lost over six hours of daylight since June, but this week we start gaining back a few seconds of light each day. The solstice is one of the oldest celebrations in human history, going back 30,000 years.

"Some ancient peoples believed that because daylight was waning, it might go away forever, so they lit huge bonfires to tempt the sun to come back. The tradition of decorating our houses and our trees with lights at this time of year is passed down from those ancient bonfires." Writer's Almanac

A Winter Solstice Prayer

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 have celebrated 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.
Amen.