Spirit of Life,
You who rise in us as the impulse
to light candles in the darkness
and share warmth with those who have none:
Now is the time when the cold rains fall
and shreds of mist cling to treetops
in the canyons.
The last of the yellow dogwood leaves are so bright
they light the forests like lanterns,
and the squirrels grow round
with winter fur.
In the deep forests
quiet and darkness abound.
It is the time of rest
and of waiting.
May we too rest.
May we let quiet fill our hearts
and spill over into the hectic world,
calming all who meet us.
May our being be an oasis of peace
and loving kindness
so we light the way like lanterns.
Blessed be.