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.

Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet, scholar and theologian, wrote that to find the real

world, give it away endlessly, growing rich, flinging goal to all who ask, live at the

empty heart of paradox.

And I'll dance with you there, cheek to cheek.

You know, all through scripture, we are told to cast aside, give away and surrender all.

But it could be that the beauty is not in what we give, but connecting to give, so that

what we really want, connection.

Well, this meditation from John chapter 15 is a contemplation on what it means to

give endlessly, to give as Jesus gave, giving all we have and all we are, so others will

be blessed and Christ glorified, not just noticing, but actively giving and loving, connecting.

So are you ready to give so that you may find?

We'll begin this time of meditation by settling deeper into where you are, a place in a

time to simply rest, no goal to achieve, no tasks to complete, to simply begin to be present

and aware.

Allow your eyes now to move from open through a soft gaze to finally closed and just become

aware of your breathing.

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