Taken by surprise

There is no moment at which God does not present himself... All that occurs within us, around us and by our means covers and hides his divine action. His action is there, most really and certainly present, but in an invisible manner, the result of which is that we are always being taken by surprise and that we only recognise its action after it has passed. Could we pierce the veil, God would reveal himself continuously to us and we should rejoice in his action in everything that happens to us. At every occurrence we should say, Dominus est, It is the Lord, and in all circumstances we should find a gift from God...

Quote: Jean-Pierre de Caussade (†1751), Self-abandonment to Divine Providence, 2.1; trans. A. Thorold (1959).