The Chord That Knows the Way
1 week ago
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“Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played, and it pleased the Lord.” The lyrics lingered in the room, the first sounds
Welcome to David Daniel Books
I’m really glad you’re here. My name is David Daniel Ahearn, and for most of my life I made my living on stages, telling stories under bright lights in theaters and hotel conference rooms around the world. Somewhere along the way, the quieter questions began to matter more, and writing became my way to listen again.
Enter David Daniel Books. A name I gave exactly zero thought to at the time. Before I knew it, this is what the site became called. I suppose that was the Divine Plan all along.
David Daniel Books is a home for stories, reflections, and ideas that invite us to slow down and pay attention. This is where I share that work. Some of it shows up as essays, some as books or YouTube videos, and some as simple observations pulled from everyday moments that linger a little longer than expected.
My goal here is pretty simple: to create genuine connections with people all over the world. Think of these as notes from one traveler to another, wondering what it means to live well, love well, and stay awake to the mystery of being here at all.
If something you read resonates, take a moment with it and feel free to send me a note. I’d truly love to hear from you. If it sparks a question, even better. This space isn’t about having answers. It’s about making room for what’s true.
Welcome. Take your time. Enjoy the journey.
Let's Take a Look Around...
Quietude: The Wisdom of Rumi
A Modern Spiritual Fable for Seekers of Silence, Wisdom, and Love
In a noisy world, one woman chooses silence. Rumi, a mysterious wanderer, carries only her Little Red Book and the guidance of two ancient guardians: Big Mama, the Earth, and The Maestro, an ageless tree rooted in the hills of Sintra. What begins as a journey of escape transforms into an odyssey of awakening—one that draws artists, villagers, merchants, and seekers from across the globe to sit in her quiet presence.
Through silence, Rumi teaches.
Through stillness, she reveals.
Through her words—offered sparingly, like jewels—she discovers the Profound Love Codes, a timeless truth that dissolves barriers and awakens the heart.
From the innocence of a child offering a flower, to the desperation of a wealthy merchant seeking peace, to the revelation of universal wisdom beneath The Maestro’s branches—Quietude invites you to witness a journey that is both story and mirror, fable and field guide.
Readers of The Little Prince, Siddhartha, and The Prophet will find in this novella a companion for their own search for meaning. More than a tale, it is a call:
to sit, to listen, to remember the silence within.
Praise for Quietude
“A contemplative parable that lingers in the heart long after the final page.”
“Rumi’s story is less about answers than about presence—and in that presence, the reader discovers their own truth.”
“A spiritual classic in the making.”
Journals to Guide Your Journey
There are moments in life when the past and the present lean in toward each other, whispering. Memoirs of a Renaissance Man is where I gather those whispers—the stories, lessons, missteps, small victories, and flashes of grace that have shaped this winding path.
This space lives on Substack and serves as the home of my written reflections. Each week, I share longer pieces—memories from the road, quiet revelations from a morning on the beach, or evenings at home with Adi. Some of these reflections grow into Galveston Dispatch: Tales from the Gulf, where I explore the spirit and stories of the island I love.
Alongside those longer reflections, I keep a simple daily practice. Once a day, I take a photo and write a few lines about what it stirs—my Photo of the Day. I also offer one short, inspiring quote each day. Small noticings. Brief pauses. Gentle reminders to pay attention.
But always—always—this is an exploration of what it means to live wide-open: to follow curiosity, to serve with heart, to create, to question, to remember, and to begin again.
These dispatches are the record of a life lived in many directions, all pointing toward the same truth: every chapter, every craft, every calling becomes part of the one story we’re here to tell.
Welcome to the journey.
Photo of the Day
The Gift of First Light
The sun rises over Sovereignty Ranch and threads its light through the branches, steady and unannounced. The tree receives it without resistance, leaves catching fire for a moment before settling back into green. The mountains hold their posture in quiet respect, knowing this light will return to them again at day’s end to close the circle. Here, away from noise and urgency, morning arrives as a gift, one that does not ask to be managed but simply to be noticed. The land does not hurry the sun, and the sun does not hurry the land. What might change if you allowed your day to begin the same way, without reaching immediately for what demands you?
Out here, promise rises with the light, though it carries the honesty that every day is finite within a single life. The beauty is not diminished by that limit, it is sharpened by it. Grass, stone, and sky offer themselves fully, never asking how many mornings remain. When the world grows loud and insistent, when motion replaces meaning, where do you go to remember what matters? As this day opens before you, how will you choose to spend what cannot be recovered, and will you let the quiet places help you decide?
—David Ahearn
Bandera, Texas
Join me on Substack to get the Photo of the Day, daily inspirational quotes and select articles to inspire you on your journey.
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