You're listening to Encounter, a simple daily podcast of sacred and mindful meditations

to help you encounter the divine presence of God all throughout your day.

If you want to have free access to the entire library of 500 meditations, I encourage

you to download the Encountering Peace app where all the meditations are free as they should be.

It's funny how often I hear from people saying how a particular meditation spoke to them.

It's funny because each of them speak to me. They are each written from a different corner of my heart,

some bright, some dark, but all personal, especially this one.

Shame is my safe blanket. Swim a huge fan of Dr. Brane Brown. She's a leading expert on the

topic of shame. And she once wrote that true belonging only happens when we present our authentic

imperfect selves to the world. Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self

acceptance. Wow, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our own level of self acceptance.

The theme for this meditation from Psalm chapter 63 is overcoming shame and overcoming it by

accepting the truth that our Creator accepts us. God knows our authentic and imperfect selves

all too well and yet he accepts us and finds us worthy of his love and belonging.

So do you know that nice, warm, familiar blanket of shame? The one you may crawl under

still far too often in times of retreat and doubt. Well, you aren't alone and you're in the right

place. Let us what this meditation is about. So whether at the beginning or the end of your day,

walk with me through this 15 minute gift of quiet meditation. One to free us both from shame

and into the accepting arms of God where we belong. Start by taking three deep breaths.

And I normally might ask you to slowly close your eyes into darkness, but for now,

keep your eyes open before we explore the dark. Rest in this place of belonging,

this time of openness, in this present moment of complete acceptance of you by God, spirit and sun.

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