Marilyn Turk's Blog, page 3

Where’s the Alligator?

Alligator Reef, photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com

What’s your first thought when you hear of a place called “Alligator Reef?” A reef crawling with creepy reptiles with giant teeth and powerful jaws? So naturally, a lighthouse named “Alligator Reef Lighthouse” would be set right in the middle of all those gators, right? Pity the poor lighthouse keeper who had to get through the creatures to reach the mainland!

However, the name had another origin. Back in the late 1800s, a series of reef lights were built off the coast of Florida under the directions of then Lieutenant George Meade of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When it came time to build the third lighthouse in 1873, situated four nautical miles off the coast of Islamorada, Florida, the 136-foot structure was named for the notorious reef it was built to warn mariners about.

Alligator Reef received its name from the Navy schooner USS Alligator, launched in 1820. Why christen a ship with the name “alligator’? Apparently, the initial design of the ship had oars which stuck out on each side and looked like little legs, like an alligator’s. Later, the clumsy oars were replaced by a screw propeller turned by hand, however, the original name stuck.

The USS Alligator’s mission was initially to stop slave ships out of the West Indies, since at that time the importing of slaves had become illegal. The next year, the ship’s focus turned toward stopping pirates from capturing ships and holding them for ransom. However, in late 1821, the USS Alligator became stuck on a reef off the coast of Florida. After hailing another ship who rescued the crew, the poor Alligator was set on fire to keep pirates from claiming her. The guilty reef was then named Alligator Reef, in honor of the ship.

Being a lighthouse keeper at Alligator Reef was not without its danger, however. Hurricanes were an annual threat to the area. The worst occurred in 1935 when over 400 people lost their lives in the nearby Keys. The Keeper’s Log from that event reveals that winds over 200 mph destroyed the lens in the tower, washed away the lifesaving boats, and soaked and damaged the keepers’ quarters. The fact that the tower still stood is a testament to the engineering feet of drilling its pilings into coral below.

Alligator Reef, 1951, photo courtesy US Coast Guard

 

Maybe an alligator wouldn’t be so bad by comparison.

 

The keepers said goodbye to the lighthouse when it was automated in 1963, then the light was deactivated in 2015, its job taken over by a thirty-foot tower topped by an automatic light. The lighthouse is still visible from shore, a destination for boaters, although not open to the public. And alligators are not a problem.

Do you sometimes become afraid of something because it sounds scary, then later you find out you didn’t need to be afraid? There are lots of things in our lives that are like that. But God tells us not to be afraid because He is with us.

 

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. Isaiah 41:10a

 

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When Santa Lived at Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island and Lighthouse today, photo courtesy NPS

The name “Alcatraz” brings to mind the notorious federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, home to noted criminals like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. The prison was considered impossible to escape, with its position on a remote island in the San Francisco Bay. Of the thirty-four attempts made, only one was questionably successful. For those unfortunate people who were sentenced there, it was a place of doom and hopelessness.

Alcatraz Island showing first lighthouse, 1895, photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com

 

But Alcatraz Island was also the site of the first lighthouse on the west coast of California, built in 1853. From that time until the lighthouse was automated in 1963, the island was home to its lighthouse keepers and their families. When the existing military fort turned army barracks was converted to the federal prison, the lighthouse families lived alongside prison guards and their families.

Keeper Ed Schneider as Santa, photo courtesy Lighthouse Digest

 

In 1931, jovial and heavyset Edward H. Schneider was appointed assistant keeper at Alcatraz Lighthouse. Not so coincidentally, Santa arrived at the island the next Christmas, bringing joy to the children of the keepers as well as those of the prison guards. Schneider’s daughter Jacquelyn, fondly remembered her life on the island, comparing it to growing up in a small town, complete with its own Santa Claus who happened to be her father. Schneider served at the lighthouse for 28 years, retiring when the lighthouse was automated in 1963.

 

Alcatraz Isaland and Lighthouse, photo courtesy San Francisco Public Library.

 

 

One might think Alcatraz Island would be a dismal place to spend Christmas. But Ed Schneider showed how Christmas joy can exist anywhere when you share your joy with others.

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ and the joy He brought into a dark world. Will you share that joy today?

 

 

 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10

Merry Christmas!

 

*Story courtesy Lighthouse Digest.

 

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Birdcages and Lighthouses

Birdcage Lantern

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What does Baileys Harbor Light in Wisconsin, Selkirk Light in New York, Prudence Island Light in Rhode Island, and the Old Cape Henry Light in Virginia have in common?

Bailey’s Harbor Light, Wisconsin

 

Selkirk Light, New York

 

 

In addition to all being lighthouses, they are capped by what is traditionally referred to as birdcage lanterns. These lanterns were so named because they resembled wire birdcages. These lighthouses also represent some of the oldest lighthouses in the United States, their birdcage lanterns common to most lighthouses built before 1852.

 

 

 

 

Prudence Island Light, Rhode Island

 

Old Cape Henry Light, Virginia

 

However, when the Fresnel lens was introduced, most of the birdcage lanterns were replaced, unable to support the new style lens. Today only these four still exist, and all but the Bailey’s Harbor Light are still active aids to navigation since the US Coast Guard replaced their Fresnel lenses with smaller automated lights. Even the 1792 Old Cape Henry, the first lighthouse commissioned by the US Federal Government, is still in use today.

 

 

 

 

              Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”

 

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Writing is a Team Effort, Thank God!

 

The common perception of writers is that they are isolated from the world, tucked away in a corner or small space with little to no human contact.

Perhaps that used to be the way it was. But these days with the internet, social media, and the ability to travel more easily, writers spend less time alone. Sometimes a writer feels all alone while their minds go to places outside of their current surroundings, however, the truth is, we are not alone and don’t need to be.

I used to think no one understood me and my feelings and thoughts about writing. But I was so wrong. First of all, almost every other writer has had the same feelings and thoughts. For that reason, we should spend time with other writers either via email or in groups with other writers, whether in critique groups or at conferences. As Christian writers, we support each other and encourage each other. We aren’t out to steal ideas or bash our fellow writer’s work. We are a team who has felt the godly call on their lives to write, therefore we are not competitors.

Another place I’ve learned to appreciate a team is in publishing a book. Whether indie publishing or traditional publishing, there has to be a team of sorts—people who edit or help with the process. In larger traditional publishing houses, there are bigger teams—agents, more editors, marketing people and salespeople.

The team concept was created by God, who saw early on that it was not good for man to be alone. Also, in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10, it says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

And in the New Testament, we see that Jesus had a team of twelve disciples that he sent out in smaller teams of two.

In Hebrews, we are told, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

So if you’re a writer, don’t believe the lie that you are alone on this journey. God is with you, and so are a multitude of other writers. Perhaps you need to reach out and find them.

 

Are you a writer who feels alone? Do you need help finding other writers? Let me know if I can help you find them.

 

May God Bless You and your Writing!

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Looking for a brighter year ahead

 

May your 2022 be a year filled with blessings!

The post Looking for a brighter year ahead appeared first on Pathways of the Heart.

The Christmas Lights of Thacher Island

Thacher Island Twin Lights, photo courtesy Lighthousefrinds.com

In 1864, a few days before Christmas, Maria Bray, wife of head lighthouse keeper of the Thacher Island Twin Lights, Alexander Bray, was in the keeper’s house, planning for the special day. She thought about what she’d prepare for Christmas dinner while she knitted a pair of socks for her fourteen-year-old nephew Sidney who was staying with them. The boy sure needed some warm socks. She’d darned his other pair, but they were beyond darning anymore. She wished she could do more for Sidney, but times were tough, and he seemed to appreciate whatever was done for him.

He’d eagerly followed her husband around, wanting to learn how to help maintain the twin lights at the island. Even though there were three keepers, having two lighthouses to maintain on opposite ends of the island was quite a chore, especially when the weather turned against them, and the foghorn had to be sounded as well. Maria glanced out the window and frowned at the sight of the dark clouds. More snow was undoubtedly on its way. As she looked, she saw Sidney running toward the house. She quickly stashed her project in the knitting basket and stood as Sidney burst through the door.

“What is it, Sidney?”

Red-faced from the cold, he said, “Mr. Abbott is very sick, burning with a fever! Mr. Bray told me to tell you he and Mr. Carter have to leave right away to take him to a doctor on the mainland.” Sidney paused to catch his breath. “Mr. Bray said they’d be back as soon as they safely delivered Mr. Abbott.”

“All right, then. Thank you for telling me. Now get those wet clothes off and dry yourself by the fire.” She reached for his coat and hat as he shed them, then hung them by the back door.  “Come get some hot tea. We can’t have you getting sick too.”

Maria stole another look out the window and said a silent prayer for the safety of Alexander and the others during their trip to the mainland. Although the men had rowed across the bay many times before, one never knew when the waves would act up and make the journey difficult and dangerous. Even the most seaworthy had lost the battle against the treacherous sea. For now, though, she was in charge of the lighthouses until the men returned. She went about her chores, watching the time on the grandfather clock as well as the weather. As the afternoon wore on, she jumped into action.

Thacher Island, photo courtesy US Coast Guard

“Sidney, come with me. We must make sure the lights are lit.” Together they trudged across through the snow to one of the towers and climbed the 148 steps to the top, carrying the oil can. In addition to refilling the lantern’s fuel, they trimmed the wicks and cleaned the glass panes of the lantern room. As soon as they finished with one light, they went back downstairs, crossed over to the other lighthouse and repeated the process. A heavy blizzard descended upon the island with fierce winds and blinding snow, making their chore more difficult. There was no doubt the men wouldn’t return in such a storm.

Maria and Sidney rested a short time before they had to return to check on the lights. After the second trip, Sidney fell asleep on the sofa. Maria decided to let him rest as she went back once more to make sure the lights had not gone out. Hopefully, the weather would break tomorrow and the men could come home. However, the blizzard continued, preventing a return trip. For two long days and nights, Maria worked non-stop to keep the lights burning. In the wee hours of Christmas morning, she collapsed into bed, thankful the snow had quit falling.

As the storm broke, Alexander decided to row back to the island. But on the way, the storm returned, tossing the skiff in the waves like a toy. The men lost their bearings and didn’t know which direction to go. Praying for guidance, Alexander saw the faint glow of two familiar lights. The pulled the oars with all their might, finally reaching the icy ramp or the island where they pulled the boat ashore. Alexander hurried home and found Maria sound asleep.

“Merry Christmas, Maria,” he said.

At the sound of his voice, Maria opened her eyes. “Are the lights still burning?” she asked.

“If they were not, my dear, I would not be here,” he said.

Merry Christmas to all and remember to keep your light burning.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

 

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A Little Writing Humor

Writing can be stressful. But it can also be fun. Sometimes, you just need to laugh.

People have been trying to communicate since life began on this planet.

Snoopy understood the life of a writer.

When do the ideas come?

And then there’s editing.

And there’s wishing it wasn’t so hard.

The necessary ingredient: coffee (or tea)

And a little help from our friends.

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The Lighthouse Keeper No One Knew About

Pencarrow Lighthouse, New Zealand

Mary Jane Bennett was New Zealand’s only female lighthouse keeper and was the head keeper of the country’s first permanent lighthouse.

However, for many years, her contribution went unnoticed.

Mary was the daughter of an English squire, where she lived a comfortable life of prestige. But when George Bennett was hired to work on their estate, the two fell in love. Mary’s father forbade the relationship, but the lovestruck couple would not be deterred. So George left for New Zealand, and shortly after Mary sailed to the country as well, taking the position of a governess to the future mayor of Wellington.

George and Mary married, and George took the position of the first keeper at Pencarrow Head lighthouse, which was initially a light in the bay window of the couple’s small dwelling. Although the view from the cliff was beautiful, the couple’s home was meager and constantly blasted by the wind. The nearest fresh water source as well as firewood required a hike across the terrain. In gales, the couple and their growing family took shelter in a cave, fearing the house would blow away. Appeals to the government for better quarters and a better light went unheeded for several years until a shipwreck with the loss of thirty live got the attention of the governor who then approved a new lighthouse.

Sadly, George never got to see the new lighthouse because his small boat was overturned when he was rowing back to the lighthouse during a winter squall. George drowned, leaving a pregnant Mary with five children to care for. With no widow’s pension, Mary became the lighthouse keeper. The new lighthouse was finally built, and in 1859, New Zealand’s first permanent lighthouse was lighted, four years after George’s death with Mary was its first lighthouse keeper. The lighting event was given a detailed description in the newspaper as a grand celebration with “hundreds of visitors” ferried to the lighthouse while a band played. Mary Bennett wasn’t even mentioned.

Old Pencarrow Light above, new light on shore

Fortunately for her, a new keepers’ cottage was built near the tower, and she began to receive supplies. Mary’s work was non-stop. In addition to caring for her children, she had to trim the wicks every three hours and clean the 180 prisms daily. Eventually, she was given an assistant keeper, a man, who resented having a woman as his superior and complained about her to the officials. However, Mary’s work ethic spoke for itself, and her keeper’s logs were considered “commendable, the lighthouse kept in an orderly and efficient manner.”

Mary’s desire was for her children to get a “proper” education, so after ten years as a single mother of six at an isolated location, she returned to England and reconciled with her father to live with him. But her father would not let her tell anyone what her position had been in New Zealand.  Her dedicated work at the lighthouse was considered inappropriate for the daughter of an English squire, so she was forced to tell relatives she was the widow of a wealthy New Zealand landowner.

Her three sons considered New Zealand home, so all three of them returned after they finished their education. William, the youngest, because assistant keeper at Pencarrow, the lighthouse where he was raised, from 1880 to 1885. He married and his children were born there.

Mary died in England in 1885. Her keeper logs and letters survived, but until recently, her British descendants did not know her story. However, in New Zealand, the generations of Bennetts passed it down.

In 1935, Pencarrow Lighthouse was decommissioned, and a new lighthouse was built on the shore below. The original still stands on the top of the cliff and serves as a daymark for ships and planes. On the lighthouse’s 150th anniversary in 2009, more than 150 Bennett descendants visited the lighthouse to unveil a commemorative plaque that pays tribute to George and Mary Bennett. Finally, Mary received the recognition she deserved.

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:31

 

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They Didn’t, But He Did

One of the pitfalls of writing is the risk of being rejected.

No one wants to be rejected, and no matter how much you try to separate yourself from the writing, you take it personally. Reject my writing, reject me.

History abounds with stories of famous authors who were rejected multiple times before their work was accepted. Here are some of them.

Dr. Seuss – rejected by over 28 publishers, went on to write 60 children’s books

James Joyce

Pearl S. Buck

Joseph Heller

Louisa May Alcott – Little Women, a classic 150 years later

Agatha Christie

Tony Hillerman

Zane Grey

William Faulkner

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen’s Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected 134 times.

Beatrix Potter – anyone ever hear of Peter Rabbit?

James Patterson

Judy Blume

Madeline L’Engle

Rudyard Kipling

Margaret Mitchell – Gone with the Wind was rejected 38 times.

J.K. Rowling – perhaps the best known in this century, rejected by 12 publishers, has gone on to sell 450 million books

I only listed details about a few of these rejected authors, but you get it. Rejections don’t doom us to failure.

 

 

We all get rejected, and it stings. But as Christian writers, our perspective should be different. We write because we felt God’s tap on the shoulder that we should, that there was a story He wanted us to share something, either fiction or nonfiction. But not every agent or editor is right for your writing, so you will get rejections. However, when our writing is matched with the right agent or editor, it’s truly a blessing.

 

 

 

So here are some things to remember if you’re a Christian writer and you experience rejection.

“They” didn’t ask you to write it, but He did.

“They” didn’t care how hard you worked, but He did.

“They” don’t care if you ever write again, but He does.

“They” didn’t value your work, but He does.

“They didn’t see your potential, but He does.

“They” don’t know the future, but He does.

Bottom line, we don’t write to please people, we write to please God, therefore we must trust Him with what happens to our work. Meanwhile, “we” don’t know if the next submission will be accepted or not, therefore, we must keep trying.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

 

 

Beacon of Freedom

Fairport Harbor Lighthouse, photo courtesy of Kraig Anderson

To many, lighthouses represented guidance and safety.

But to runaway slaves in the 1800’s, the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse represented freedom.

Built in 1825, the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse in Ohio is located at the mouth of the Grand River where it flows into Lake Erie.

Fairport’s townspeople were strongly against slavery and when the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850, the people were violently opposed to it. Tavern owner Samuel Butler became chairman of a citizens’ group that sought to repeal the law, and his Eagle Tavern became a safe haven for escaping slaves and the headquarters for those willing to help. Anti-slavery sea captains, sailors, townsfolk, and lighthouse keepers worked together to hide the runaway slaves and smuggle them aboard ships bound for Canada.

Fairport Harbor Lighthouse, 1859, photo courtesy National Archives

 

 

Often the slaves were hidden high in the lighthouse, safe from slave masters of the neighboring state of Kentucky, who roamed the streets of Fairport, searching for their slaves.

To these runaway slaves, the lighthouse was the last stop on the Underground Railroad and the first step toward freedom.

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1