People find the light in their life in so many ways and places. It can be as easy as turning on a switch.
Some find all the light they need in a sunset…
…or a moonrise.
Others find illumination in a church…
…a synagogue…
…a mosque…
…or a library.
Sacred is a place that lights up your heart.
It isn’t always easy to find…
Some look for it in food…
…at the bottom of a wine glass…
…or through yoga.
Some light up with the joy and anticipation of adventure.
And what constitutes an adventure is very personal.
Sometimes light comes from the joy of creation in all of its many forms…
Everyone’s light shines through differently. To each his own.
It is there.
It is there.
It is there.
All words and images copyright Naomi Baltuck.
Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Photo Challenge: Shine.
Writing Between the Lines 
What a fabulous topic to display in photographs, since we spend so much of our lives talking about it. The images both say it all and yet also jumpstart our own creativity to keep exploring the question. Wonderful post.
Hi Sabrina,
Thanks so much for stopping by. You always bring so much depth to the conversation. Thank you for joining in.
Lovely! Thanks for the adventure and turing on my light switch. Nice analogy.
Dear Jo,
Thank YOU for such a really sweet comment.
I imagine you get a lot of enjoyment going through your photos for these challenges. What wonderful memories you’ve captured–especially the baker/chef and yoga.
Hi Patti,
It’s a good thing I raised such incredibly good sports! I do love going through the photos–it’s time consuming, but I can be all by myself in a room, laughing and crying as I look through them in preparation for a post.
Thanks so much for your visit.
Well done…very well done.
Dear Charlie,
Thank you so much!
Let our (internal) light shine one!
Love this post as all those previous. You have a special touch here.
Dear Tess,
Thanks so much. This was a fun one to pull together. As always, I appreciate your visit, and your very generous response.
Awesome! 🙂
Thank you!
You make my soul smile. 🙂
You make my heart happy!
I love your blog. It always makes me smile…and think…and smile….
Dear Aarene,
Thank you so much. That really means a lot to me.
You always rise to the occasion, Naomi. And love is the best light.
A wonderful post. Thank you!
Dear Jamie,
It is everything.
Love,
Naomi
A wonderful collection of photos, Naomi. I loved them all!
Thank you, Maggie. I had fun over at your blog today–I felt like I got a personal tour of the house!
What a fantastic gallery … about light and how it comes to us .. in many forms and shapes … some we can turn off and some we can’t. Truly wonderful post. My favorite is the “tunnel”
I so appreciate your visit, and I love to hear which photo you like best. I’m glad you mentioned that particular one, because I wasn’t sure about that one. It’s positive reinforcement for going ahead and following my instinct.
WoW. Amazing.
Excellent collection of pictures – they show a lot of ways how you can work with light in photos.
Thank you for your kind response. I have always been fascinated by the interplay between light and shadow. Thank you for the ‘follow.’ I visited your blog, and enjoyed what I saw. I look forward to following your blog too.
Thanks for the inspiration! I adore the yoga photo too – made me laugh. 🙂
Thank you, Kasia! It would seem that my daughter has inherited my sense of dignity. Thank for the visit.
Loved those pictures of you and your family.
Thank you, Shimon. Sometimes I think I probably should stick to writing about writing and storytelling, but I always seem to drift back to what gives me joy, and that is my family.
I feel all warm and tingly and buoyant…a lightness of being! Thanks for the lovely way you put words and pictures together. I never did grow out of my love for picture books!
Dear Scilla,
That’s how Thom courted me–he was a kindergarten teacher, and he read me his favorite picture books!
Oh, that’s so perfect! Steve sets aside all the picture books before he sells them, just so that I can get first dibs if I want! I also find that my children tend to give me them as gifts…just as I did for them when they were younger. Actually, I’m looking forward to getting really old so that my grandkids will come visit and read me stories!
That is so sweet! I saved my kids’ picture books. Now I have lots of fun stiff for visitors, and I am hoping that I will one day have grandkids to read and to pass them on to.
Love, love this post, Naomi! All lights are presented beautifully 🙂
Thank you, Amy!
A lovely selection!
Thank you, Elena!
A fabulous and positive post, so full of love and light Naomi 🙂
Is that card with the sketch of the Blue Mosque hand made by one of you?
Dear Madhu,
That was a sketch my son Eli made after breakfast when we were staying in Istanbul. Art is better than an ambassador. One of the women serving at the breakfast buffet saw the sketch and asked him to do a portrait of her. He was pleased to, and then the guy waiting tables saw his portrait and teased her, saying Eli had made her look too young and pretty. It was a sweet way to break through the reserve and actually have a more real conversation with them.
I can imagine….that sketch looks pretty impressive 🙂
HI Madhu,
Thank you. I will pass that on to him. Eli is actually a pretty talented artist, and is collaborating with my daughter on a graphic novel. It’s not easy when one is in Argentina and the other in California, but they will have some time to brainstorm when we go see Eli this summer.
I can imagine….that sketch looks pretty impressive 🙂
Beautiful, Naomi! Love your little chef. 🙂
Dear Jo,
Oh, my gosh, she was such a cute little kid! How’d she grow up so fast? Thank you so much for your visit.
Naomi,
These are perfect. It’s life as it is.
Love,
Micheline
Dear Micheline,
Thank you so much. It is so good to hear from you.
Love,
Naomi
Amazing post, I loved them all. Thank you, love, nia
Dear Nia,
Thanks you for visiting! And thanks, too, for taking the time to leave a really sweet response.
Love,
Naomi
You are welcome dear Naomi, I always visit your amazing blog, I love to be here. Love, nia
Such interesting pictures and great story!! Love stain glass…
I love stained glass too. I try, whenever possible to visit churches on sunny days, so that the glass will really light up. Even so, I got lucky with this shot. Thanks so much for the visit.
You light up the blogosphere Naomi, great post. My favourites are *ponders* the stained glass in the church, and the campfire.
Dear Roy,
Thanks so much for your very generous response. I enjoy knowing which photos people like best. Thank you for your visit, and for taking the time to comment.
This is so beautiful and so true. I love the love photos. 🙂
Hi Sheila,
Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate your very generous comment.
Beautiful! The pictures you share and the words you choose are perfect and moving! Thank you 🙂
Hi Arlene,
I appreciate your visit. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
Wonderful images, I love that you didn’t take the topic literally and covered so many different ‘lights’, the yoga one made me laugh 🙂
Thank you so much! Your comment sure made me smile. Thanks for the follow. I look forward to following your blog too.
I want to embrace every bit of light, hope and joy you shared in this photos. Light is everywhere. All we need is to really open our eyes as see it. One of my light is my family. But the light that sustains my soul is up above me…God of course! Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you so much for your visit, and, as ever, your very thoughtful response. Wishing you and your wonderful family all the best.
Gorgeous photos! Definitely lit up my day! I love the one of you with your kids–your smile is brighter than the sun. 🙂
Such fun pics for the light theme, Naomi. You really made me smile. Thanks for sharing, and brightening this dull day. 🙂
Dear Sylvia,
You are always so gracious! Thanks for the visit, and for brightening my day too.
Dear Kourtney,
Thanks so much for the visit, and for your really sweet response. Nothing lights up our life like those kids. It was true then, and it still is today.
I have never seen an ordinary post on your blog. Each time a new post appears, it tugs at some corner of my heart or makes me relive a memory from my own past.
Sometimes I wish I had taken some time out to document each one of those memories, like you did, lest i start forgetting them as I grow old (and I am probably just half your age, or maybe even lesser!)
I love the photo of you with your daughter (your daughter, isn’t it?) in the grass.
And yes, love does shine brightest of all! 🙂
Dear Mona,
I am so moved by your thoughtful response. It is never too late to start documenting–with a camera, a journal, or simply by telling your own stories. My kids remind of stories I’ve told them and long since forgotten, so sometimes they come home to you on the breath of another teller! Many of the stories I tell draw from memories or experiences that go way back, such as that photo of taken of me and my sister Constance that you refer to. We had just set out on bicycles together to seek our fortunes out west, and she is still one of my closest friends. I do hope that you document your stories and experiences, because even if there isn’t the time or inclination right now, one day you will be so glad to have the seeds of a story you want to share in a picture or a journal. Thank you again for making me smile. Warm wishes, Naomi
BEEYOOTEEFULL, as always Naomi, loved the pics of the all the kids young and in that incredible pose. Have a blessed week!
Love,
Mary
Dear Mary,
Thank you, thank you for your wonderful response. You always make me smile! I have been out of town, and trying to catch up on my blogging. I hope your Mother’s Day was a happy one.
Love,
Naomi
You do this so very beautifully, connecting the photos with words, all in a theme. Thank you for being!
Dear Carol,
Thank you, as always for your visit, and your really thoughtful comment. I have been traveling, and am about a week behind on my blogging. I do hope that you had a Happy Mother’s Day. I smile to think of the fun you all have together (the photo of your daughter meditating in the middle of the highway comes to mind). If anyone has a heart full of love, it is you.
what a veritable plethora of mindblowing (and, well, mildly mind-slapping, or bending, or just ‘wow’) foto-graffia!
Thank you! I appreciate the visit, and your taking the time to comment. You really made me laugh.
Only light can defeat the darkness. How I love light, no matter how small.
Thank you for the visit, and for taking the time to share a thoughtful response.
A wondeful photo-essay, Naomi. The pictures are full of life as is your narrative.
Thanks so much, J.A. My heart was definitely in this one!
Wonderful images and thoughts. Thanks for joining the challenge and for brightening up my day!
Thanks for the visit and your kind response, Nancy!
Hi Naomi,
your posting was the key for my challenge-entry:
http://wp.me/p3c0SB-260