http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos.asp?ID=3002041&Sort=Region

Follow the link above to the full wide angle view of LeRoy Zimmerman's photograph

In relation to my blog, Searching For The Light: One Woman's Journey, I found this picture and the photographer's explanation for taking the picture. How fitting with my essay! In his own words:

There are many reasons that people go to church. And surely one of those reasons is to 'seek the light'. Sometimes through beliefs, and other times through a camera. There is a simple Russian Orthodox Church in the village of Ninilchik, in south central Alaska, along the coast of the Cook Inlet. A shot I had long envisioned getting, auroras over the historic church, was never easy to do as it was almost 500 miles from my home in Fairbanks. I do not find myself in that area too often. But the auroras had been active for the few nights previous, so I was making a photo-trip around the state at that time; it made sense to park myself at the church that night. So that became my reason to attend church that evening, as I too was their to 'seek the light'.

There are many ways to be aware that there are greater forces at work in this world than we can ever understand. Some may go inside the church to know, and some of us can know from being outside the church. I welcome the mystery of not knowing some of the secrets of this world, and this night, was a reminder of just how humble one should be.

Leroy Zimmerman

http://www.leroyzimmerman.com/

LeRoy Zimmerman's photographic work is part of the World At Night collection at the website http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photographers_about.asp?photographer=Babak%20A.%20Tafreshi

Be sure to follow the link above, to see this wonderful and artful compilation of the work of many, many photographers who turn their lenses to the night sky that covers us all, no matter where we are standing when we gaze upwards towards the heavens. It is another way of realizing that we, as inhabitants of this planet, share so many things. The billions of sparkling, twinkling, inspiring, wondrous flickers of the night stars are as numerous as our brothers and sisters upon this earth.

We should consider each beating heart that shares our space on this planet as if they were one of those sparks of celestial beauty in the night sky. We are all as precious to our maker as each one of his stars - and if you stop to think about it, we all throw off our own little version of "the Light" and with that I say goodnight. May I wish upon a star...................................