You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast made possible by listeners like

you.

We hope to help you discover sacred moments in the middle of ordinary days.

If you would enjoy more seasonal and topical meditations, I encourage you to download

the encountering piece mobile app where all of the meditations are free as they should be.

When you're alone, feeling the most isolated and judged, if you wrapped in shame, that

is when you can most easily count your true friends, usually on one hand.

I've been there and able to count mine on one hand.

One of my favorite theologians is Henry Nowen, and he once wrote that the friend who can

be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour

of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not healing, not curing, that is

a friend who cares.

I can find no better words to express what a true friend feels like.

And the theme of this meditation from Proverbs chapter 18 is just that, friendship.

Having a relationship with someone who will be there for you when you need something,

no matter what, or when.

One that you can share love not only in times of happiness, but also in times of trouble,

the most often in times of trouble.

So enter into your meditation by settling in to wherever you are and just feel known,

feel recognized.

Let it be a time to feel vulnerable too, and then a moment to be safe with God's spirit

and son.

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