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.

The little goblins, Disney characters, and superheroes that ring our doorbell on Halloween

night, they seem innocent enough.

It's fun to wear a disguise and pretend to be someone new, at least for the night.

But what is truly frightening is how we often drape ourselves in costumes well into adulthood.

With a mask, we can become what we pretend to be.

A make-believe character in a make-believe world, pretending to be who we want people to

think we are.

Saying one thing while thinking about something else, wearing a disguise of being attentive

when you actually don't hear a word that's being said, or wearing a mask of forgiveness

while still harboring resentment.

The theme of this guided audio meditation from Colossians chapter 3 is meant to encourage

you to slip out from behind your mask to face the world, to remove your worldly disguise

and put on your new self, the true self of God's creation.

So to begin your meditation, settle into a place of transparent reflection for a moment,

remove any masks, disguises, or crawl out from under a blanket of shame as you're able

to.

Just allow your breathing to begin to settle, in your eyes to close.

...