You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast to help you find the sacred in the ordinary.

We have 100 meditation episodes on this podcast, but if you want to listen for free to the entire library of 500,

I encourage you to download the Encountering Peace mobile app

where all the meditations are free, as they should be.

St. Augustine, a Roman, African and early Christian theologian and philosopher,

he once wrote that, You God, are good and all-powerful, caring for each one of us as though the only one in your care.

What did that say, and what did you hear? Listen again, you God are good and all-powerful,

caring for each one of us as though the only one in your care. I will confess that I wanted it to say, you God are good and all-powerful, and I am the only

one in your care. But the kicker is, God cares for the whole world and each of us as though

we were the only one in his care.

That difference revealed something about my soul.

I want God to be all about me and no one else, his only child.

Well, this meditation from Galatians chapter 5 is about freedom, really, having the freedom to love beyond yourself, to learn to love God as God shows love, to love everyone, and treat

everyone you meet as though they were the only one in your care, to love as though. We'll start by taking a moment

to settle and be still your selfish heart. Center on your breathing and the pulsing of your

heart. Allow your mind and your body, your soul and spirit to become still as you center on the

love of God with each beat of your heart with each breath you take let your eyes

begin to close naturally and begin to rest here.

This opening time of prayer is yours.

Time to be free, free of words, free of structure. Simply approach God as he approaches you and in his way.

Continue by responding to this passage from Matthew chapter seven and as I lead us respond simply

Lord God help me love others and may God richly bless the reading of his word

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