What can a book say? Can it utter a single word? No, not one. And yet, as Carl Sagan marveled, “What an astonishing thing a book is… imprinted [with] lots of funny dark squiggles… Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you.”
What can a sunrise say? Can it speak aloud? No, not a sound. And yet, in Claude Monet’s "Impression Sunrise," we feel the quiet majesty of a new day breaking over his hometown harbor. It doesn’t just show us light; it shares the profound feeling of enchantment and hope that only a sunrise can convey.
What can a tree say? Can it form a single sentence? Of course not. But as Hermann Hesse once wrote, “Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth… they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.”
You don’t need to be a Carl Sagan, a Claude Monet, or a Hermann Hesse to uncover the wisdom in these wordless things. But you do need to be a noticer and a listener. Books and nature are waiting—not to speak, but to awaken something in you. If you listen, truly listen, they can reveal a world shimmering with magic, with endless promise and possibility - without ever saying a thing.
***
I’m Michael Kennedy, Olympic Valley, CA resident, married to Nicola Kennedy (in photo above). I’m a writer, photographer, lover of nature, and property caretaker. I just want to say thanks for your attention - I appreciate it in such a noisy world. If you enjoyed it, please share with others. It means a lot to me and it helps others see the story.
If you're interested in owning any photos in my gallery, call or text me at 530.608.9150 with inquiries. My email: michael.kennedy999@gmail.com.
Kommentare