Meditations For The Metro

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Second Timothy in The New Testament and from the writings of Stephen Covey, with music by Acreage.Passage: I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. —2 Timothy 1:5Perspective: Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. ―Stephen R. CoveyMusic: “Planets” by AcreageNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Corinthians in The New Testament and from the writings of Isaac Newton, with music by Moments.Passage: God is not the author of confusion but of peace. —First Corinthians 14:3Perspective: Truth is ever to be found in the simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things. ―Isaac NewtonMusic: “Within Yourself” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Thessalonians in The New Testament and from the writings of Robert Ingersoll, with music by Quiet Lake.Passage: Examine all things; retain that which is good. —First Thessalonians 5:21Perspective: The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation. ―Robert IngersollMusic: “Paths” by Quiet LakeNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Matthew in The New Testament and from the writings of Saint Augustine, with music by Kurtis Parks.Passage: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. —Matthew 11:28Perspective: Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. —Saint AugustineMusic: “Friendship And Enmity” by Kurtis ParksNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Isaiah in The Old Testament and from the writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, with music by Moments.Passage: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord… that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. —Isaiah 2:3Perspective: Radiant is the world soul, full of splendor and beauty, full of life, of souls hidden, of treasures of the holy spirit, of fountains of strength, of greatness and beauty.Proudly I ascend toward the heights of the world soul that gives life to the universe. How majestic the vision.Come, enjoy. Come, find peace. Embrace delight. Taste and see that God is good.Why spend your substance on what does not nourish and your labor on what cannot satisfy?Listen to me, and you will enjoy what is good, and find delight in what is truly precious.—Rabbi Abraham Isaac KookMusic: “Within Yourself” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Proverbs in The Old Testament and from the writings of Albert Camus, with music by Kurtis Parks.Passage: One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there are also friends who are as reliable as family. —Proverbs 18:24Perspective: Don't walk in front of me… I may not follow. Don't walk behind me… I may not lead. Walk beside me… just be my friend. ―Albert CamusMusic: “Friendship And Enmity” by Kurtis ParksNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of John in The New Testament and from the writings of Ray Bradbury, with music by Outside The Sky.Passage: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. —John 14:27Perspective: “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies . . . It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away.” ―Ray BradburyMusic: “Open Focus” by Outside The SkyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of John in The New Testament and from the writings of Rabindranath Tagore, with music by Shimmer.Passage: “The saying ‘One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” —John 4:37-38Perspective: The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life. —Rabindranath TagoreMusic: “Era” by ShimmerNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Meditations For The Metro will be on a summer break from Monday, June 26 through Monday, July 10. Until then, remember that there are 1100-plus episodes you may listen to in our archives.

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Exodus in The Old Testament and from the writings of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, with music by Cody Martin.Passage: Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”And Moses said, “Here I am.”“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is sacred ground.” —Exodus 3:1-5Perspective: Earth's crammed with heaven... but only he who sees, takes off his shoes. ―Elizabeth Barrett BrowningMusic: “Home Is Where The Heart Is” by Cody MartinNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Second Timothy in The New Testament and from the writings of Gustav Mahler, with music by Fair Frame.Passage: For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God's gift, which you received. —2 Timothy 1:6Perspective: Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. ―Gustav MahlerMusic: “Hope” by Fair FrameNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Matthew in The New Testament and from the writings of Mokokoma Mokhonoana, with music by Stephen Keech.Passage: Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” —Matthew 14:29-32Perspective: To most human beings, wind is an irritation. To most trees, wind is a song. ―Mokokoma MokhonoanaMusic: “Wind” by Stephen KeechNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Proverbs in The Old Testament and from the writings of Cassandra Clare, with music by Moments.Passage: The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord. —Proverbs 20:27Perspective: Whatever you are physically... male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside. ―Cassandra ClareMusic: “Within Yourself” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Samuel in The Old Testament and from the writings of Albert Schweitzer, with music by In This World.Passage: Whenever the tormenting spirit troubled Saul, David would play the harp, the evil spirit would go away, and Saul would feel better. —1 Samuel 16:23Perspective: There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats. ―Albert SchweitzerMusic: “Ancient Scrolls” by In This WorldNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Hebrews in The New Testament and from the writings of Lionel Shriver, with music by Moments.Passage: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. —Hebrews 13:8Perspective: Change is like that: you are no longer where you were; you are not yet where you will get; you are nowhere exactly. ―Lionel ShriverMusic: “Here With You” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Corinthians in The New Testament and from the writings of Neem Karoli Baba, with music by Alsever Lake.Passage: I discipline my body, training it to do what it should. —1 Corinthians 9:27Perspective: A learned man and a fool are alike as long as there is attachment and ego in the physical body. ―Neem Karoli BabaMusic: “Picture This” by Alsever LakeNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Second Corinthians in The New Testament and from the writings of Rasheed Ogunlaru, with music by Moments.Passage: These bodies of ours, though made of clay, are filled with treasure. —2 Corinthians 4:7Perspective: There is no shortage of external inspiration. Open your eyes and look and you'll be dazzled by it. But it's nothing if you fail to see the magic, wonder and potential that resides within. ―Rasheed OgunlaruMusic: “Within Yourself” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Deuteronomy in The Old Testament and from the writings of Ravindra Shukla, with music by Outside The Sky.Passage: How could one person chase off a thousand in battle? How could two people make ten thousand flee for their lives? Only because the Lord handed them over. —Deuteronomy 32:30Perspective: When people of similar frequencies come together, output is not a simple sum of individual work, but exponential. In science we term this phenomenon as resonance. Output at this stage is beyond any logical limit. ―Ravindra ShuklaMusic: “Resonance” by Outside The SkyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Hosea in The Old Testament and from the writings of Graham Greene, with music by Lost Ghosts.Passage: I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery they will earnestly seek me. —Hosea 5:15Perspective: Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a sin the corrupt or evil man never practices. He always has hope. He never reaches the freezing-point of knowing absolute failure. Only the man of goodwill carries always in his heart this capacity for damnation. ―Graham GreeneMusic: “Darkest Space” by Lost GhostsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Timothy in The New Testament and from the writings of Brennan Manning, with music by Shimmer.Passage: I exhort, then, first of all, that supplication, prayer, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people– for kings, and all who are in authority, that we might lead quiet and peaceable lives in godliness and gravity. —1 Timothy 2:1-2Perspective: While there is much we may have earned--our degree and our salary, our home and garden, a Miller Lite and a good night's sleep--all this is possible only because we have been given so much: life itself, eyes to see and hands to touch, a mind to shape ideas, and a heart to beat with love. We have been given God in our souls and Christ in our flesh. We have the power to believe where others deny, to hope where others despair, to love where others hurt. This and so much more is sheer gift; it is not reward for our faithfulness, our generous disposition, or our heroic life of prayer. Even our fidelity is a gift. ―Brennan ManningMusic: “Pages” by ShimmerNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Luke in The New Testament and from the writings of Joey Curtis, with music by Moments.Passage: What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops. —Luke 12:3Perspective: Life shapes us whether we like it or not. It's the choices we make in the dark when we're all alone in our secret place that shape the world around us. ―Joey Curtis Music: “Hear Me Now” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Kings in The Old Testament and from the writings of Rumi, with music by Work Brunch.Passage: The Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. And out of the silence the voice of God spoke. —1 Kings 19:11-13Perspective: Silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.” ―Rumi Music: “Thought Pool” by Work BrunchNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Matthew in The New Testament and from the writings of Vincent van Gogh, with music by Cast of Characters.Passage: Everyone who keeps asking will receive. Everyone who keeps searching will find. And everyone who keeps knocking will have the door opened. —Matthew 7:8Perspective: If I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. —Vincent van GoghMusic: “In Search Of Discovery” by Cast of CharactersNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Isaiah in The Old Testament and from the writings of Saint Jerome, with music by Moments.Passage: Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. —Isaiah 1:17Perspective: Someone may ask, “How is justice greater than all the other virtues?” The other virtues gratify the one who possesses them; justice does not give pleasure to the one possessing it, but instead pleases others. —Saint JeromeMusic: “Within Yourself” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Psalms in The Old Testament and from the writings of Carl Sagan, with music by Sean Daugherty.Passage: When I look up at the heavens, the moon and the stars that you set in place, what are human beings that you think about them and care for them? You've made them only a little lower than God, crowning them with glory and honor. —Psalm 8:3-5Perspective: The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena… The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there... —Carl SaganMusic: “Empty Space” by Sean DaughertyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Psalms in The Old Testament and from the writings of E.F. Schumacher, with music by Wild Wonder.Passage: The entrance of thy words giveth light; and understanding unto the simple. —Psalm 119:130Perspective: Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. ―E.F. Schumacher Music: “Childlike” by Wild WonderNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Second Timothy in The New Testament and from the writings of John Green, with music by Craig Allen Fravel.Passage: God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. —2 Timothy 1:7Perspective: There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't. ―John GreenMusic: “Lucid Dreams” by Craig Allen FravelNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Romans in The New Testament and from the writings of Suzy Kassem, with music by Cristina Scannicchio.Passage: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. —Romans 7:15Perspective: Everybody has a little bit of the sun and moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them. Darks and lights in them. Everyone is part of a connected cosmic system. Part earth and sea, wind and fire, with some salt and dust swimming in them. We have a universe within ourselves that mimics the universe outside. None of us are just black or white, or never wrong and always right. No one. No one exists without polarities. Everybody has good and bad forces working with them, against them, and within them. ―Suzy KassemMusic: “In The Misty Valley” by Cristina ScannicchioNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Habakkuk in The Old Testament and from the writings of Nayyirah Waheed, with music by Outside The Sky.Passage: The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. —Habakkuk 2:14Perspective: If the ocean can calm itself, so can you. We are both salt water mixed with air. —Nayyirah WaheedMusic: “Resonance” by Outside The SkyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Proverbs in The Old Testament and from the writings of Byron, with music by Acreage.Passage: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. —Proverbs 17:22Perspective: Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine. ―ByronMusic: “Motions” by AcreageNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Isaiah in The Old Testament and from the writings of John Muir, with music by Setah.Passage: You will go out in joy and be led back in peace. The land itself will break out in cheers; The mountains and the hills will erupt in song, and the trees of the field will clap to the rhythm of nature. —Isaiah 55:12Perspective: Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn. ―John MuirMusic: “Piano Butterfly” by SetahNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Isaiah in The Old Testament and from the writings of Louisa Thomsen Brits, with music by Chelsea McGough.Passage: I am the Lord who comforts you. —Isaiah 51:12Perspective: Hygge offers space for both reverie and relatedness. The heat of an open fire draws us close. Its shadow gives us a place to hide and softens our gaze. ―Louisa Thomsen BritsMusic: “Reverie” by Chelsea McGoughNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Genesis in The Old Testament and from the writings of Mary Oliver, with music by Cloud Wave.Passage: In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was everywhere; and the Spirit of God was brooding over the face of the waters. —Genesis 1:1-2Perspective: Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift. ―Mary OliverMusic: “Stratosphere” by Cloud WaveNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Exodus in The Old Testament and from the writings of Stanley Hauerwas, with music by Kurtis Parks.Passage: The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. —Exodus 33:11Perspective: Friendship, if it is the friendship of God, is to be characterized by fidelity in which you are even willing to tell the friend the truth. Which may mean you will risk the friendship. You need to be in that kind of community to survive the loneliness that threatens all of our souls. —Stanley HauerwasMusic: “Friendship And Enmity” by Kurtis ParksNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Romans in The New Testament and from the writings of Eknath Easwaran, with music by Stephen Keech.Passage: To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. —Romans 8:6Perspective: Unless we train it, the very nature of the mind is to keep on hopping from one thing to another, almost at random. The mind can be very usefully employed, but it has to be trained for its job. Too much of the time the mind is engaged in negative thinking, either about others or about ourselves – a destructive occupation. Training the mind means establishing and maintaining sound shop standards: good, creative, consistently kind thinking, and no around-the-clock activity, either. When the mind has nothing productive to do, we need to learn how to close up shop and let it rest. —Eknath EaswaranMusic: “For They Will Inherit The Earth” by Stephen KeechNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Isaiah in The Old Testament and from the writings of Julian of Norwich, with music by Wes Taylor.Passage: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” says the Lord. —Isaiah 42:14Perspective: God showed me this truth in all things, saying, “It is I. I am the power and the Goodness of the Father, I am the Wisdom of the Mother, I am the Light and the Grace which is blessed love, I am the Trinity, I am the Unity, I am the supreme Goodness of all kind of things, I am the One who makes you love, I am the One who makes you desire, I am the never-ending fulfilment of all true desires." …It is thus logical that God, being our Father, be also our Mother. ―Julian of NorwichMusic: “Ode To Mothers” by Wes TaylorNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First Peter in The New Testament and from the writings of Dean Koontz, with music by Lincoln Davis.Passage: If Christ suffered, so will we. This has a purpose. For in our suffering, we learn to live for God's will rather than for our own. —1 Peter 4:1-2Perspective: Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss; because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one. ―Dean KoontzMusic: “Afternoon” by Lincoln DavisNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Romans in The New Testament and from the writings of Kahlil Gibran, with music by Outside The Sky.Passage: Suffering brings perseverance, which brings character, which brings hope. There is no shame in this, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. —Romans 5:3-5Perspective: When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God." And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.―Kahlil GibranMusic: “Columba” by Outside The SkyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Proverbs in The Old Testament and from the writings of Brittin Oakman, with music by Kurtis Parks.Passage: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. —Proverbs 4:23Perspective: I lied and said I was busy. I was busy; but not in a way most people understand. I was busy taking deeper breaths. I was busy silencing irrational thoughts. I was busy calming a racing heart. I was busy telling myself I am okay. Sometimes, this is my busy - and I will not apologize for it. ―Brittin OakmanMusic: “Promise Of Hope” by Kurtis ParksNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Ecclesiastes in The Old Testament and from the writings of Rumi, with music by Falls.Passage: The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. —Ecclesiastes 1:6-7Perspective: Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds' wings. ―RumiMusic: “Every Now And Zen” by FallsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Psalms in The Old Testament and from the writings of Leah Raeder, with music by Dreamware.Passage: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. —Psalm 34:18Perspective: Kintsugi is a pottery technique. When something breaks, like a vase, they glue it back together with melted gold. Instead of making the cracks invisible, they make them beautiful. To celebrate the history of the object. What it's been through. And I was just thinking of us like that. My heart full of gold veins, instead of cracks. ―Leah RaederMusic: “Here With Me” by DreamwareNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Zechariah in The Old Testament and from the writings of Steve Maraboli, with music by Acreage.Passage: God says, “I will refine people like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them.” I will say, “These are my people,” and they will say, “We have found God.” —Zechariah 13:9Perspective: Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient. ―Steve MaraboliMusic: “Abandon” by AcreageNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Luke in The New Testament and from the writings of John Steinbeck, with music by Outside The Sky.Passage: News about Jesus spread, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew from them, going to lonely places to pray. —Luke 5:15-16Perspective: All great and precious things are lonely. —John SteinbeckMusic: “Mystic Wind” by Outside The SkyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Matthew in The New Testament and from the writings of St. Augustine, with music by Falls.Passage: The mouth reveals what the heart is full of. —Matthew 12:34Perspective: Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? I am a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of my head are easier by far to count than my feelings, the movements of my heart. —Saint Augustine Music: “Mindfullness” by FallsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of First John in The New Testament and from the writings of Donald Miller, with music by Hale.Passage: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. —1 John 1:8Perspective: When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are. ―Donald Miller Music: “Flutter” by HaleNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Ecclesiastes in The Old Testament and from the writings of Lao Tzu, with music by Outside The Sky.Passage: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. —Ecclesiastes 9:11-18Perspective: Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. ―Lao TzuMusic: “Open To Receive” by Outside The SkyNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Hebrews in The New Testament and from the writings of Fyodor Dostoevsky, with music by Makenna Susan.Passage: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of of the One to whom we must answer. —Hebrews 4:13Perspective: Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love. ―Fyodor DostoevskyMusic: “Rivers” by Makenna SusanNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Gospel Of Matthew in The New Testament and from the writings of Christian Wiman, with music by A Thousand Words.Passage: Those who humble themselves like a little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 18:4Perspective: So long as your ambition is to stamp your existence upon existence, your nature on nature, then your ambition is corrupt and you are pursuing a ghost. ―Christian WimanMusic: “For All Our Days” by A Thousand WordsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Philippians in The New Testament and from the writings of Shannon L. Alder, with music by Moments.Passage: Do everything without grumbling and complaining so that you may be like pure, innocent children, shining like lights in the darkness. —Philippians 2:14-15Perspective: Sometimes, it is how you shine in the darkness during other people's misery that is remembered more than anything you could have said or done when you have suffered just as much. ―Shannon L. AlderMusic: “Last Love” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Colossians in The New Testament and from the writings of Peter Gabriel, with music by TAYME.Passage: For in him all things were made: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. All things have were made through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all parts become one. —Colossians 1:16-17Perspective: So we think we really live apart because we've got two legs, a brain, and a heart. We all belong to everything; to the octopus suckers and the buzzard's wing, to the elephant's trunk and buzzing bee's sting. Stuff coming out, stuff going in, I'm just a part of everything. —Peter GabrielMusic: “Family” by TAYMENarrator: Ryan Phipps

Today's meditation comes from The Book Of Second Corinthians in The New Testament and from the writings of Eknath Easwaran, with music by Moments.Passage: Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. —2 Corinthians 5:6-8Perspective: As long as we think we are the body, we will fight to hold onto the body when death comes to wrench it away. The tragedy, of course, is that death is going to take it anyway. So the great teachers in all religions tell us, “Give up your selfish attachments now and be free.” Then, when death does come, we can give him what is his without a shadow of regret, and keep for ourselves what is ours, which is love of the Lord. There is great artistry in this. Death comes and growls something about how our time has come, and we just say, “Don't growl; I'm ready to come on my own.” Then we stand up gracefully, take off the jacket that is the body, hand it over carefully, and go home. —Eknath EaswaranMusic: “The Light Within” by MomentsNarrator: Ryan Phipps