The author, Lauren F. Winner, reflects on the creative nature of God, likening divine actions to the craft of a novelist. She describes how God employs various literary techniques, such as alliteration and rhyme, but emphasizes that foreshadowing is the most significant device. For Winner, God’s use of foreshadowing reveals intention and purpose behind events, hinting at deeper meanings waiting to be discovered.

In her examination of her experiences at the Cloisters and through the lens of Eudora Welty’s work, Winner believes that God was leaving clues for her. These clues were subtle indications of what was to come, and with greater insight, she could have recognized them. This notion encourages readers to consider the divine intricacies in their lives, urging a more attentive awareness of the signs around them.