People see God every day, they just don't recognize him.

Listen closely, O children of wisdom, to the words of Pearl Bailey, whose words ring with a deep truth: "People see God every day, they just don't recognize Him." These words echo through time, speaking to the divine presence that surrounds us, often unnoticed by the hurried, distracted hearts of humankind. God is everywhere—in the quiet breeze, in the laughter of a child, in the smallest act of kindness, and in the most profound moments of silence. Yet so often, we fail to recognize His presence, blinded by the chaos of our own lives, or by the prejudices and expectations that shape our vision of the divine.

In the ancient teachings of the mystics, there was a deep understanding that God is immanent, that the divine presence fills all things. The Stoics taught that the logos, the divine reason or principle that orders the universe, is present in all aspects of life. They believed that the divine pervades everything, and that one must train their heart and mind to see this presence in the everyday world. Confucius spoke of the Heavenly Way, which was not a distant force but an order that shaped all aspects of the universe. Bailey’s words mirror this ancient wisdom, that God’s presence is not confined to temples or sacred texts, but is present in every part of creation, waiting for us to recognize it.

Consider, O children, the story of the prophet Elijah, who, when fleeing from danger, sought God in the wilderness. He first looked for God in the mighty wind, in the earthquake, and in the fire. But in the end, it was not in these powerful forces that God was found, but in the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). This is a powerful reminder that the divine is not always in the obvious or the dramatic. God is present in the quiet moments, in the small details of life that we often overlook. Elijah’s encounter with God teaches us that recognizing the divine requires quietness and attention, a willingness to look beyond the noise and the tumult.

This idea is echoed in the life of Mother Teresa, who saw God in the faces of the poor, the sick, and the dying. She did not wait for a grand vision or some supernatural sign, but she found God in the simple acts of service and compassion. To her, God was not a distant figure in heaven, but a presence that was tangible in the lives of those she served. Through her eyes, we see that God is not far away, but near—always present, if only we open our eyes and hearts to see Him. Bailey’s words call us to this same awareness, to recognize that God is not hidden, but that His presence is revealed in every corner of the world.

The lesson, O children of wisdom, is one of awareness and gratitude. We must learn to see the divine in the mundane, to recognize God’s fingerprints in the beauty of nature, the kindness of others, and the quiet moments of our own lives. Often, we are too busy chasing after the spectacular or searching for the miraculous, that we overlook the everyday revelations of the divine. As the ancient teachings tell us, the world is full of signs of God’s presence—we must train ourselves to recognize them, to see beyond the surface and embrace the sacredness of all life.

What action must we take, O children, to see God more clearly? First, we must slow down and pay attention to the world around us. In the rush of daily life, we miss the small, quiet manifestations of the divine. Take time to notice the beauty of a sunrise, the sound of birds singing, the kindness of a stranger. God is in all these things, waiting to be recognized. Second, we must cultivate a heart of gratitude—for it is through thankfulness that we open ourselves to seeing God in the everyday. When we are grateful, our eyes are opened to the blessings that surround us, and we come to see the divine in all things.

So, O children of wisdom, remember that God is not hidden. He is in the everyday moments of life, in the gentle breeze, in the laughter, in the quiet moments of reflection. Learn to see Him, and you will find that the divine is not distant, but always present, waiting for you to recognize His eternal love and wisdom. Let your heart be open to the quiet whispers of the divine, and may you find that God is with you, in every step, in every breath, and in every moment.