Days of heavy clouds stifling the sunlight
the world burdened by grayness and gloom
Open our eyes, O Lord
To the coming of your light
Lifting the burden of darkness.
Chillness that seeps deep into bones
hearts and spirits rigid with frost-hardness
souls wrapped up against coldness and loneliness.
Open our souls, Lord,
To the warmth of your arrival
Melting the hardness
The separates us from the world and eternity.
[The photo above is of St. Barnabas' House, where I spent my time in monastic life. I couldn't find a photo of the House in winter, unfortunately.]