There is a tendency to want to hurry from August to Spring, to avoid the long dark days of Winter. But winter darkness has a positive side to it. As we gather to celebrate the winter solstice …. the longest, darkest night of the year…. we are invited to recognize and honor the beauty of the winter season. Winter teaches us about the need for withdrawal as an essential part of renewal… as the earth prepares to come from this time of renewal and into a season filled with light. Pause now to sit in silence in the darkness of this winter space. And, if you look closely, you will see the magic in the woods and in the winter skies, and the promise of the light to come.

excerpts from A Celebration of Winter Solstice by Joyce Rupp & Macrina Wiederkehr