--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My whole life has been spent waiting for…" description: "\"My whole life has been spent waiting for an epiphany, a manifestation of God's presence, the kind of transcendent, magical experience that let's you se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/bette-midler-1976_big-picture_my-whole-life-has-been-spent-waiting-for_282045.jpg" --- # My whole life has been spent waiting for an epiphany, a… ![“My whole life has been spent waiting for an epiphany, a manifestation of God's presence, the kind of transcendent, magical experience that let's you see your place in the big picture. And that is what I had with my first compost heap.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/bette-midler-1976_big-picture_my-whole-life-has-been-spent-waiting-for_282045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/bette-midler-1976_big-picture_my-whole-life-has-been-spent-waiting-for_282045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/bette-midler-1976_big-picture_my-whole-life-has-been-spent-waiting-for_282045.jpg) > “My whole life has been spent waiting for an epiphany, a manifestation of God's presence, the kind of transcendent, magical experience that let's you see your place in the big picture. And that is what I had with my first compost heap.” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes waiting for a profound spiritual moment, finding it unexpectedly in everyday work like composting, suggesting meaning can arise from simple actions. **In simple terms:** Spiritual insight can come from ordinary tasks. Key Takeaway Seek depth in daily chores. Themes spirituality mindfulness purpose Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - gardening - composting - personal reflection - mindful routines Key Concepts transcendence presence meaning Questions to Reflect On - What mundane activity could reveal deeper purpose? - How do you balance spiritual yearning with everyday life? A Different Perspective May over‑emphasize mysticism, neglecting practical aspects of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) [Epiphany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epiphany/) [God 's presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-presence/) [God's Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-presence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [Transcendent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendent/) ## Related quotes > [It's all a compost heap. You just put down a layer of humus that helps other stuff grow. Your work will all be forgotten,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-edelman/it-s-all-a-compost-heap-you-just-put-down-a-layer-of-humus-that-helps/) Murray Edelman > [Those who are waiting for an epiphany to strike may wait forever. The artist simply goes to work, making art, both good and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/those-who-are-waiting-for-an-epiphany-to-strike-may-wait-forever-the/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [A good memory is surely a compost heap that converts experience to wisdom, creativity, or dottiness; not that these things are of much earthly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/a-good-memory-is-surely-a-compost-heap-that-converts-experience-to/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [“You are not special. You're not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else. We're all part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-are-not-special-you-re-not-a-beautiful-and-unique-snowflake-you/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I love the 'Percy Jackson' movies. That was my big break. I love the people I worked with. It was a really magical experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-daddario/i-love-the-percy-jackson-movies-that-was-my-big-break-i-love-the/) [Alexandra Daddario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-daddario/) > ['Deadwood' was a magical experience. It was an absolute culmination of everything I've ever wanted to do as an actor as an artist, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/deadwood-was-a-magical-experience-it-was-an-absolute-culmination-of/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [The jazz trombone is a magical experience particularly to hear and listen too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jensen/the-jazz-trombone-is-a-magical-experience-particularly-to-hear-and/) John Jensen > [I can't enjoy the rush of how magical of an experience it is to have people listen to you, and relate to you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-can-t-enjoy-the-rush-of-how-magical-of-an-experience-it-is-to-have/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [Meditation isn't necessarily this magical experience where we don't ever have thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/meditation-isn-t-necessarily-this-magical-experience-where-we-don-t/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [To be a mother is a magical experience. The whole body is transformed by this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisele-bundchen/to-be-a-mother-is-a-magical-experience-the-whole-body-is-transformed/) [Gisele Bundchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisele-bundchen/) > ['What's My Line' 1971 was a magical experience as I was still in my teens, and it was my first appearance. You know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-west/what-s-my-line-1971-was-a-magical-experience-as-i-was-still-in-my/) [Randy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-west/) > [It's a trippy and really magical experience when people like Michelle Obama are looking at you saying, 'Great job,' when all you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-elise-goldsberry/it-s-a-trippy-and-really-magical-experience-when-people-like-michelle/) [Renee Elise Goldsberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-elise-goldsberry/) > [The main characteristic of Nature's farming can therefore be summed up in a few words. Mother earth never attempts to farm without live stock;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-main-characteristic-of-nature-s-farming-can-therefore-be-summed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So let's not get frightened when the children read fantasy. It's the compost for a healthy mind. It stimulate s the inquisitive nodes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/so-let-s-not-get-frightened-when-the-children-read-fantasy-it-s-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“People are just like seeds, needing the compost, in other words, harsh conditions, to grow. All the inconveniences in our lives serve as fertilizers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talidari/people-are-just-like-seeds-needing-the-compost-in-other-words-harsh/) [Talidari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talidari/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you're bound to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## More Big picture quotes > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [“Everything's a painting, anyway," Fawn said. "That's what I think. We live inside a giant painting, only we can't see who's holding the paintbrush.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-christo/everything-s-a-painting-anyway-fawn-said-that-s-what-i-think-we-live/) [Rose Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-christo/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [My mom taught me the power of love. I learned to focus on the long-term big picture from my father. His sense of humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/my-mom-taught-me-the-power-of-love-i-learned-to-focus-on-the-long/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) > [Sometimes we find ourselves stumbling over obstacles we face today but always see the big picture and keep moving forward. Have faith - someday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/sometimes-we-find-ourselves-stumbling-over-obstacles-we-face-today/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [I think that the fact of the matter is that metal isn't really part of the big picture of the gay, lesbian, transgender music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/i-think-that-the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-metal-isn-t-really-part/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [I am a bigger-picture manager because I've lived through something that's a big picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/i-am-a-bigger-picture-manager-because-i-ve-lived-through-something/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“I suppose that was an example of close attention to detail that is common to writers and artists. It is imperative, whether consciously or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-winder/i-suppose-that-was-an-example-of-close-attention-to-detail-that-is/) [Elizabeth Winder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-winder/) > [“When she made her way to the big picture window that framed the dining room table she froze. She stopped breathing. The anger was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-she-made-her-way-to-the-big-picture-window-that-framed-the/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Everyone is against micro managing but macro managing means you're working at the big picture but don't know the details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/everyone-is-against-micro-managing-but-macro-managing-means-you-re/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [It is important to ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and what purpose it serves in the big picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/it-is-important-to-ask-yourself-why-you-re-doing-what-you-re-doing/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It's not about winning and losing; it's about every day hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/to-be-a-champion-i-think-you-have-to-see-the-big-picture-it-s-not/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [“I would love to tell you that being a content manager is easy. Straightforward. That you will be able to focus on what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-busche/i-would-love-to-tell-you-that-being-a-content-manager-is-easy/) [Laura Busche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-busche/) [Browse all 423 Big picture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My whole life has been spent waiting for an epiphany, a manifestation of God's presence, the kind of transcendent, magical experience that let's you see your place in the big picture. 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