I saw a photograph of a wedding conducted by Reverend Moon of

In these thoughtful words, Don DeLillo speaks of the profound urge to seek understanding through the act of creation. He recounts seeing a photograph of a wedding conducted by Reverend Moon of the Unification Church, an event both extraordinary and mysterious to the observer. The image sparked curiosity in him, a desire to grasp the meaning behind ritual, devotion, and spectacle. DeLillo recognizes that mere observation cannot suffice; to truly comprehend such an event, he must engage with it through the discipline of writing, transforming perception into insight and reflection.

The origin of this insight lies in the enduring human belief that storytelling and chronicling are essential to comprehension. In ancient times, scribes and poets documented sacred rites, wars, and ceremonies, not merely as a record, but as a way to internalize and interpret the forces shaping human life. From the epics of Homer to the histories of Herodotus, the act of writing was both a mirror and a key, allowing the observer to penetrate the deeper truths hidden within human actions. DeLillo’s words echo this tradition: writing is the method through which the perplexing becomes intelligible.

The photograph itself represents more than a mere image; it is a portal to culture, belief, and human longing. Like the frescoes of medieval cathedrals or the illuminated manuscripts of monastic halls, the image captures both ritual and emotion, frozen in time. By choosing to write about the event, DeLillo seeks to animate what is static, to uncover the layers of meaning, symbolism, and human desire that lie behind a single captured moment. In this way, the observer becomes a participant in the sacred drama, translating mystery into narrative.

History offers a vivid parallel in the work of Margaret Mead, the anthropologist who traveled to Samoa and other Pacific islands. She did not merely observe rituals; she wrote extensively about them, seeking to understand the hearts and minds of the people she studied. Her writings transformed distant customs into comprehensible human experiences for readers across the world. Similarly, DeLillo turns his curiosity into literature, bridging the gap between the unfamiliar and the understood, and honoring the human impulse to make sense of the extraordinary.

Ultimately, this quote teaches the timeless value of engagement through creation. Observing alone offers only fragments of truth; it is through careful study, reflection, and the act of writing that one can approach deeper understanding. DeLillo reminds future generations that the mysteries of human life—ritual, devotion, and emotion—are best explored not as passive spectators but as active interpreters. Let this teaching endure: to encounter the unfamiliar, one must go beyond the eye, allowing the mind and pen to guide the heart toward insight.