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.

And if you would enjoy greater access to even more free meditations, I encourage you to

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

Back in the day, the most exciting news a young married couple could share was that they were

expecting a baby. The gender was almost an afterthought. Well, no longer. Now it's all about

the gender reveal. Cottage industries have sprung up around crafting huge balloons filled with

hidden pink or blue confetti. Poppers ready to shoot out pink or blue streamers.

I've even seen smoke bombs that light up with pink or blue smoke.

It had been a closely guarded secret for months, but now the couple wants all of their friends and

family to gather around them for the big surprise reveal. And of course, streamed live on social

media for the world to see. The reveal is fun, but it's so hard to keep a secret, isn't it?

Is it ever hard for you to keep a secret of very exciting news of great joy?

It's so fun, but it can be so frustrating too, can't it?

Well, the theme of this meditation from Luke chapter 19 is about a revelation revealing

exciting news, news of great joy that you just can't keep bottled up a moment longer.

The good news of the blessed, celebrated, praised and joy-filled name of Jesus.

So to begin, whether already awake in the exciting light of the new day

or reflecting back in the long shadows of evening, yield this time as a divine retreat,

a time not of anxiety, but a moment of joyful revelation in the divine name of God.

Allow your eyes to move now, from open, through a soft gaze, to finally closed,

...