Christianity

Interview with Sarah Mankowski

Interview with Sarah Mankowski
October 11, 2012

This interview was compiled from questions asked by visitors to my store and by readers. In most cases the questions were formed from multiple questions.

Q: What inspires the designs in your store?
A: I design, or ask my son J.D. to design, things that interest me. I love butterflies, for example. Therefore, my store includes many items with butterfly designs.

For several years now I have added Christmas cards, these being the cards that I wished to send to family and friends. They include original poems. Since the cards remain in the store, we have accumulated quite an assortment. In this way I have cards to send each year. Items purchased are an added blessing. I am very grateful to our customers for shopping at our Christmas store.

Q: Christmas poems?
A: Yes. I’m not much of a poet, but I try to write poems connecting the birth of Christ to our present-day lives. The message of Christ is always for the present. This year’s theme is The Bethlehem Star. In the poem I attempted to convey the idea that like faith unseen, this star soul-seen, remains our guide through the frustrations of everyday life.

Q: Your store includes many products created using your photos. Tell me about your photography in relation to being legally blind.
A: I was born with cataracts in both eyes. When this happens the cataracts are usually removed while the child is still quite young, and then corrective glasses must be worn. My situation was complicated by detached retinas. This left me almost completely blind in the left eye. I can only see light. For this reason the doctors left the cataract in my right eye. My “good-eye” sight is 20/200.

When I take photos, I am only looking through the right eye. One reason I take so many photos is, by doing so, I can study distant objects more clearly on the computer screen. This is certainly true when observing butterflies.

Butterfly Close Up

Q: Living in Florida, and as you say fourth-generation Floridian, how does location influence your work?
A: Living in a climate where I can garden year round keeps me outdoors year round, and enjoying nature with all my senses. I do not know if I can express this correctly, but when you must examine things much closer, it makes your little space seem much larger. My garden seems like some vast world with all the plants and critters as inhabitants. I suppose this shapes perspective in some way.

Q: You have been quite open about your faith after being agnostic for much of your adult life. How has your faith changed the direction of your store and your writing?
A: Regarding the store, The Christmas Store for certain. Christmas meant very little to me before I found faith, or rather faith found me ready to pay attention.

Gratitude to God for showing me that even when I believed myself alone, He was always there. I do not believe I possess the ability to properly express my gratitude, yet I try with the designs.

In writing, I said what I wished to say about faith and science in my novel As The Dominoes Fall. I have no plans to write another work of fiction that deals so overtly with Christianity. If I felt the need to say something, it would more likely be expressed in nonfiction. I am not cleaver enough to write these things without sounding preachy, which I would rather not do in fiction.

This past year I have rewritten and lengthened my novel Echo’s Voice into a six-episode series for Kindle. This is a novel set in the future. Religion only plays a role in the novel insomuch as religion is practically illegal in this future time.

Q: Has becoming a Christian changed the way you write?
A:  Becoming a Christian has changed me inside, has filled me with gratitude for our loving God. It has made me think about my actions, including my creative endeavors. My boundaries, as I hope to be true with real-world neighbors, I do not wish to needlessly offend. Yet my characters will be who they are; just as real-world friends will be who they are.

Q: How do you think your writing is influenced by being legally blind?
A. That is really hard to answer. Because I do not see well enough to note facial expressions I tend not to add many details. I probably convey more through dialog.

Q: How did you become interested in writing?
A: My mother read to my sisters and me from babyhood. From earliest memory I was making up adventures for the characters, from the books she read. Many were the Doctor Dolittle adventures I invented.

Q: What are you currently working on? Future plans?
A: For the store, I am currently working on Our Christmas Store.

Writing: I am writing the seventh episode of Echo’s Voice. (Kindle only)

I am also working on a book about gardening. At this time I’m not sure if it will be Kindle only, or Kindle and print.

Q: How do you feel about reviews?
A: I am always grateful for reviews. Of course people will have varying opinions. Nevertheless, I am always grateful for feedback.

Winter Approaches – Further Contemplation Under The Grapevine

Only a few weeks ago I wrote about the amazing quantity of grapes that began fruiting after I pruned the vines.

Now, as October slips away, my vines are yellowing and shedding leaves in preparation for winter. And still, many of the grapes are not yet ripe.

I stand under the arbor and look up at the still-ripening grapes. As the vines shed for winter some of the grapes shrivel without ever ripening. Many others seem to be ripening much more slowly than last summer. The days are cooler now. I suppose they can’t muster the energy to swell into juicy sweetness.

Look! This grape is plump and ripe. I pop it into my mouth. How juicy and sweet. Surely, this grape is sweeter than any I devoured throughout July and August. Tucked among the not-yet ripe grapes and the shriveled grapes I find a few more that are perfectly ripe. I eat slowly, savoring each grape as though it might be the last of the season.

Time: All of God’s creation is contained within Time. God created time. It is as though all that exists is contained within a book, and the book jacket reads TIME. We can only flip the pages forward. Time-travel truly is a one way journey.

We are the branches. We fruit. We are pruned. We fruit again with so much more promise. But time passes on. Things happen that we never saw coming. Situations change. The days seem too short and we haven’t the energy to ripen all our plans. Some dreams shrivel and fall away. Some are plucked from our hand by a hungry bird called Reality. Some will not have time to ripen before winter calls the branches to rest.

“Lord, what are you showing me with the bountiful branches that set fruit with so much promise? What is the point when so many will never ripen?”

I notice another ripe grape all but hidden behind the yellowing leaves. How good it tastes.

As the sweet juice fills my mouth the answer touches my thoughts. “Do not dwell on the fruit that will never ripen. Do not regret the ones that shrivel much too soon. Do not be angry that some are snatched from your hand by Reality. Savor those that have ripened and will ripen still. The quantity may not be what you wanted, for you wanted so much. Savor each ripe grape in turn. One grape is no less sweet than a handful. Each one is a blessing. Savor each fruit in turn.”

Biblical Figs

Figs and leaves grow together on new spring growth

The Biblical parables gain fresh perspective in the garden: Feel the strength of the grape vine; watch new clusters of fruit develop after a good pruning. Grow a fig tree and you will know what it means to hunger for the first ripe figs of summer.

Last week our Sunday school class studied Mark 11. I brought a sprig from a fig knowing the parable of Jesus withering the fig tree would spark discussion. Yes, I believe it is meant to be read as a parable, a parable demonstrated. A parable that I believe is better understood by examining other Biblical references to figs: Fig trees. Early figs. Withered figs. Fig leaves

Excerpts from Mark 11:13 – 25
Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’”

Fig trees are deciduous, meaning they go dormant during winter. We know that this story takes place during the week leading up to Passover, springtime. At this time of year, in my garden, fig trees are beginning to push out fresh green shoots, from which that season’s leaves and fruit will mature.

Matthew 24:32
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.”

This description is exactly what one would expect that time of year. You can’t see the green tips very well in my photo, but you can see the green on the new growth of leaves and figs, as they develop together on new growth.

Fig and Fig Tree Imagery In Scripture

Flourishing Fig Trees / Prosperity and Peace

Deuteronomy 8:8
…a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey…

2 Kings 18:31
“…Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern.”

Proverbs 27:18
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit…

Joel 2:22
Be not afraid, O wild animals, for the open pastures are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

When you read the following verse, let it really sink in, this amazing image of peace and prosperity.

1Kings 4:25
During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.

These days we think of prosperity in terms of acquiring ever more stuff. But that is greed, not prosperity, and it is not likely to lead to peace. “…each man under his own vine and fig tree.” This means the land is not at war. The men are at home, living in the shade of their own fig tree, making wine from their own grapes. This is an amazing image of prosperity. Every man has his own fig tree and vineyard. He can feed his family, at home, in peace and safety. Oh, if only we could know such prosperity in our lifetime. But the rat-race runs too fast and relentlessly for this understanding of peace and prosperity.

Withered Fig Trees / Shriveled Figs

Imagery of withered fig trees and shriveled figs were a powerful symbol of retribution. No wonder the prophets used the symbol when urging the people to turn away from idolatry.

Hosea 2:12
“I will ruin her vines and her fig trees, which she said were her pay from her lovers…”

Amos 4:9
“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:13
“‘I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them.’”

Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

Revelation 6:13
…and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.

Early Figs

One must grow a fig tree to truly appreciate the imagery of the early fig. Dried figs, preserved from last year’s harvest were an important part of the winter diet. (Read more about growing figs and their nutritional value.) Spring arrives and one sees the green shoots signaling the end of winter. Summer is right around the corner. New leaves and figs begin to form Figs do not have noticeable flowers, so the early figs are the first sign of the coming harvest. Figs are quite perishable, so they must either be eaten quickly or preserved/dried.

Now let me tell you, there is nothing to make the gardener’s entire body sing with gratitude like discovering the first ripe figs of summer. The fig is immediately popped into the mouth; the gardener savors the sweet, juicy goodness. This is a sign that the harvest will soon arrive.

Hosea 9:10
“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree…”

Isaiah 28:4
That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest—as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.

Nahum 3:12
All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

Then, of course Jeremiah’s two baskets of figs.

Excerpts from Jeremiah 24:1-10
“…The LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD. One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very poor figs, so bad they could not be eaten…”

“…This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. But like the poor figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt…’”

Some believe the following verses, Micah 7: 1-7 may be what Jesus was referencing when he speaks of being hungry for early figs. This seems plausible since the verses also speak of the betrayal of friends.

Micah 7:1-7
“What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen has come, the day God visits you. Now is the time of their confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household. But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

But we must also consider another fig tree parable.

Luke 13: 6 – 9
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Fig Leaves

Let us not forget the first mention of the fig, mentioned after eating another fruit.

Genesis 3:3-7
…but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Young Earth Creationists are fond of saying that if we do not accept the Creation story as literal fact, we undermine the rest of scripture. I disagree, adamantly disagree. The truth found in the creation story is a truth repeated continually throughout scripture. This truth not only makes the creation story relevant, but the necessary place to begin.

Whether you accept what is known about evolution, or believe that the Genesis account is literally true, please consider that the account of man’s fall into idolatry is critical to understanding every verse that follows.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

They no longer accepted, without question, the perfect good that is God. They had traded God’s perfect knowledge for knowledge filtered through the imperfect human brain, and chose to act accordingly. They decided that being naked before God was evil, so they made garments of fig leaves. And so we see idolatry manifested for the first time, humans chose to value self-proclaimed good above the perfect good of God. Over the generations our fig leaves have become fancier and more detailed, our forms of idolatry more varied. We became so firmly set upon a self-selected path that to this day we seem incapable of any other.

There are only two paths: Follow God. Follow self.

Now back to Mark 11, and the withering of the fig tree. Consider the verses again in relation to the other uses of fig imagery in scripture.

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

Well, it wasn’t really the season for leaves either – although, fig trees will leaf and fruit early under certain conditions. The point is, if the tree had already formed summer leaves it was not unreasonable to expect a few early figs.

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

As I’ve already mentioned these verses do seem closely associated with Micah 7:1-7. However, I also see something of Hosea 2:12 and Jeremiah 8:13, quoted above.

With the verses that follow, we see that Jesus is protesting idolatry, the greed that is worshiped above God in the Temple. The worship of the law that left little room for compassion.

A fig tree adorned in green finery without any nutritious fruit, this is what he is telling us about the activity in the temple. Oh, if only we could learn to change our ways.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Again, in this imagery we see the repeated warnings of the prophets decrying idolatry.

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

Cursed? Would anyone say that the temple was cursed when Jesus overturned the tables and drove out the moneychangers? No, he was trying to point them to the better path.

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’”

Trust God. We must not rely on our own understanding of good and evil. We must have faith in God’s perfect good, and take every request to Him. For all things are possible with God.

A few weeks ago I discovered a nursery that specializes in edible landscape plants. The selections were impressive and I purchased three varieties of fig in small 6-inch pots. During the first week at my house I didn’t have a chance to transplant into larger containers. When I finally got around to it, one fig plant had withered and looked dead.

I transplanted anyway and nipped back the tips. A week or so later I was rewarded by a couple of fresh green shoots. Now the plant is thriving and should produce figs next summer.

I can hardly wait to taste the first ripe fruit.

Word To Live By

A member of our Sunday School class shared this today. Truely, words to live by from Mother Teresa.

Written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa

Easter Sunrise And The Cycle Of Death and Resurrection

I’ve been meaning to post some photos from Easter, but… The weather has been so perfect I’ve spent every free moment working outdoors. This wonderful weather won’t last for many more weeks. Summer will arrive soon enough.

While the rain drizzles outside my window this afternoon I will try to catch up a little.

On Easter Sunday I left the house well before daylight. Having never attended a sunrise service on the beach, I really wanted to go this year. Afterward, I planned to spend some time alone, walking and reflecting.

A large crowd had already assembled when I made my way through the predawn darkness to find a tiny spot of sand. I spread a towel, sat and soon the music began. The band was good and they selected a nice mix of traditional and contemporary music.

Easter sunruse on the beach

As we sang How Great Thou Art the sun slowly began to appear above the waves. “Look! There! It’s rising!” came the shouts of excitement. All of us with cameras and many without rose to better see the sunrise, while we sang all the verses of my favorite hymn.

What an incredible moment!

After the service I walked northward along the beach, walking at the edge of the water so that the waves just barely covered my bare feet. As I walked, and the sun continued to rise, I noticed how the stream of light on the waves seemed to walk with me. Of course I know this was an illusion made possible because of the sun’s enormous size. The sun would appear to walk with me whether I walked on a beach in Florida or New York.

Still, this kept me thinking about Easter sunrise as metaphor for son rise. In the sunrise our thoughts reflect upon resurrection and redemption. Now I continued to reflect upon this metaphor as I saw the shaft of light upon rippling water. As the sun lifted into the brightening morning, I thought about the continuous presence of Christ in our lives. And like the sun, a presence so large that Christ’s presence may be felt by all.

The sun walks with me

Those were my thoughts on that beautiful morning. Then, back home, and back to work in my garden. I suppose the cycle of death and resurrection makes since to a gardener, for we must bury the seed in the ground before it can sprout, flower and fruit.

On Tuesday evening, Don received word that Dr. Julian Compton, his partner in designing the computer game Data Boxing, had passed away. This came as a shock because the death was so sudden and unexpected. Within moments of receiving this news I went online and learned that my friend Michael Spencer, The Internet Monk, had also passed away.

I have written about iMonk’s battle with brain cancer, and while this news was not unexpected, I grieve the loss. Even now, nearly a week later, I find it difficult to put into words how much this loss affects me.

This past week, while planting seeds in my garden, my mind kept going back to the sunrise as symbol of resurrection. And of course I thought about the deaths of our friends. Like that stream of sunlight on the morning beach, iMonk’s writings will stay with me, resurrected in my thoughts.

Easter Morning On The Beach