Why No Photographs?

I looked for the wren singing from its perch on a nearby cactus, braved gale winds to photograph waves crashing over the harbor light, crawled along the earth’s floor to photograph wildflowers. When my shoulders are heavy with sadness, troubled with the weight of pending decisions, or worry steals night’s necessary slumber, I have always found respite in nature. 
 
Mother, too. 
 
It is why we titled our book, Miracle Within Small Things. Life is filled with those things of which we have little control. Aging. Death. Conflict. War. For us, nature is the thread of light that guides us through the dark times, that creates the miracles within us needed to live with joy. 
 
Our words tell our stories.
 
But for almost fifteen years, I have slung a camera around my neck or tucked one in the pocket of my jeans. And so, people ask, why no photographs in our book? 
 
Originally, I submitted a collage of favorite relevant photos for each of the chapter headings: Arizona, Michigan, The Pandemic, and Chair Chat. However, the cost of including those pages was prohibitive and the quality of mass-production questionable. As a result, the collage pages were removed.
 
But these are difficult times. And so, over the holiday season, I’ll publish the collages—along with a favorite poem/story. It’s my way of shining light on the many turbulent clouds visible on the horizon. 
 
How can one not smile at the sight of the wren greeting the dawn?