--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are living in a world that is…" description: "\"We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and God is shining through it all the time. God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything - i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/thomas-merton-231_awe_we-are-living-in-a-world-that-is-absolut_945330.jpg" --- # We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent… ![“We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and God is shining through it all the time. God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything - in people and in things and in nature and in events ... The only thing is we don't see it ... I have no program for this seeing. It is only given…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/thomas-merton-231_awe_we-are-living-in-a-world-that-is-absolut_945330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/thomas-merton-231_awe_we-are-living-in-a-world-that-is-absolut_945330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93b/thomas-merton-231_awe_we-are-living-in-a-world-that-is-absolut_945330.jpg) > “We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and God is shining through it all the time. God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything - in people and in things and in nature and in events ... The only thing is we don't see it ... I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The divine is present in all aspects of existence, but human perception often fails to recognize it without intentional openness. **In simple terms:** God is everywhere, but we rarely notice. Key Takeaway Cultivate awareness of the sacred in daily life. Themes spirituality perception divine mindfulness Mood contemplative reverent Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - nature walks - art appreciation - community service Key Concepts theology transcendence presence Questions to Reflect On - How can you train yourself to notice the sacred in ordinary moments? - What habits blind you to spiritual awareness? A Different Perspective Seeing the divine requires intentional practice, not just passive existence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Gates of heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gates-of-heaven/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Shining through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining-through/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“God manifests himself in historical revelation, in history. Time initiates processes, and space crystallizes them. God is in history, in the processes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-manifests-himself-in-historical-revelation-in-history-time/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I know if I told you what God looked like and felt like then I'd be telling you a story. I just think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcgraw/i-know-if-i-told-you-what-god-looked-like-and-felt-like-then-i-d-be/) [Tim McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcgraw/) > [“Life comes from light: if we are under God’s shining light, life will be generated and the divine life will grow in us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/life-comes-from-light-if-we-are-under-god-s-shining-light-life-will/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“When you are discouraged, do not look down. Hold your head up high and you will see the face of God shining a light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-autherine/when-you-are-discouraged-do-not-look-down-hold-your-head-up-high-and/) [Janet Autherine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-autherine/) > [When we turn the mind inwards, God manifests as the inner consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/when-we-turn-the-mind-inwards-god-manifests-as-the-inner-consciousness/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [He who loves, never grows old. God it a shining example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/he-who-loves-never-grows-old-god-it-a-shining-example/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“In the previous few minutes, I had seen the most beautiful thing that eyes can see: the glory of God shining in the radiance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/in-the-previous-few-minutes-i-had-seen-the-most-beautiful-thing-that/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [God manifests himself in each historical period according to the understanding of the people of the era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdolkarim-soroush/god-manifests-himself-in-each-historical-period-according-to-the/) [Abdolkarim Soroush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdolkarim-soroush/) > [It is one of my favorite thoughts that God manifests Himself to men in all the wise, good, humble, generous, great, and magnanimous men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/it-is-one-of-my-favorite-thoughts-that-god-manifests-himself-to-men/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [“The face of God shining upon you is like the warmth of the sun on a beautiful day at the beach. One accustomed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-brestin/the-face-of-god-shining-upon-you-is-like-the-warmth-of-the-sun-on-a/) Dee Brestin > [Let me remember I am one with God. Our shining footprints point the way to truth, for God is our Companion as we walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/let-me-remember-i-am-one-with-god-our-shining-footprints-point-the/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“The good that happens in our world is the light of God. Those little things we fail to notice. The terrible things are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holdsworth/the-good-that-happens-in-our-world-is-the-light-of-god-those-little/) [David Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holdsworth/) > [God manifests himself to us in the first degree through the life of the universe, and in the second degree through the thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/god-manifests-himself-to-us-in-the-first-degree-through-the-life-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [This is the state of all creatures, whether men or angels; as they make not themselves, so they enjoy nothing from themselves; if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/this-is-the-state-of-all-creatures-whether-men-or-angels-as-they-make/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Whatever you keep hidden in your heart, God manifests in you outwardly. Whatever the root of the tree feeds on in secret, affects the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/whatever-you-keep-hidden-in-your-heart-god-manifests-in-you-outwardly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Awe quotes > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief without the help of any other argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/there-are-certain-scenes-that-would-awe-an-atheist-into-belief/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awe-combined-with-intimacy-is-the-essence-of-christian-worship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-we-call-life-bitter-names-but-only-when-we-ourselves-are/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [The laws of nature are the skeleton of the universe. They support it, give it shape, tie it together. Taken as a whole, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-skeleton-of-the-universe-they-support-it/) James Trefil > [When you look at yourself and feel dissatisfaction about any part of you, you will continue to attract feelings of dissatisfaction, because the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/when-you-look-at-yourself-and-feel-dissatisfaction-about-any-part-of/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Sometimes not seeing things can be a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/sometimes-not-seeing-things-can-be-a-blessing/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [I'm always in awe at how fast television is and how quickly you're called upon to be 100 percent invested in a character with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latanya-richardson/i-m-always-in-awe-at-how-fast-television-is-and-how-quickly-you-re/) [LaTanya Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latanya-richardson/) [Browse all 1,119 Awe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and God is shining through it all the time. 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