We are the gardener of our garden called life. As a gardener
we can be kind, nurturing, gentle, protective, and somewhat devoted but we can
also be ignorant, careless, blind, and negligent. Without the help of the
Master Gardener we remain ignorant, careless, etc... Without the assistance of
the Master Gardener we stay oblivious to the purpose or necessity of our
garden. Part of our garden feeds us; gives us the sustenance we need to
properly and wisely take care of our garden. Other parts of the garden gives us
fulfillment, pleasure, and the satisfaction of taking care of something,
knowing that we’re needed and being appreciated for the care we give. Each part
of the garden is connected and interwoven. The care or lack of care we give to
one part can affect the other parts. Some parts of our garden goes
uncultivated, undeveloped, neglected, and or improperly cared for.
When we seek companionship, we invite others into our
garden. We all compare our gardens, making observations, taking or gathering in
information, taking a whiff of the fragrance, aroma, odor, or scent other
gardens emanate. Observing its order, its ciaos, its growth, and or its
potential. And though the gardener may be suited for a simple, minuscule
gardening task, he may not be suited to take on a more complicated, complex
task. The potential inside of us is always attracted to gardens that have been
better kept, properly tilled, and the choice of seeds planted in its garden. We
are sometimes amazed by the floral décor we’ve seen planted in the gardens of
others and sometimes we are left in disgust at the sight of a garden that’s
overgrown with weeds and poisonous plants that chokes the life of the gardener
and anyone who comes into it.
Some gardeners have
been very successful at maintaining their garden. Doesn’t mean that their garden
is perfect, that it needs no attention, replanting, fertilizing, or watering
etc….It means that this gardener has done his best at utilizing the tools he
was given and has a somewhat productive garden. And though most gardens have
the potential to grow no matter how productive or unproductive, some gardeners
become, satisfied or complacent with its current productivity. They compare
their garden with others and they say it’s better than a whole bunch of other
gardens. They notice other gardens and gardeners who have cultivated a similar
level of success and they are gratified by the feeling of achievement and
opportunity to share in that success. And because the other gardeners have
become content, complacent, or lazy they are sometimes unchallenged to reach
for any thing greater than what they see with their natural eyes.
And then we meet someone that wants to plant themselves in
our garden or perhaps just visit. Depending on what kind of gardener they are,
they can bring order or ciaos to our garden but sometimes they bring exactly
what we need to dream again; to cause us to see beyond our current level of
success and drop some gardening tips. They can show us what we’ve been doing
right and what we’ve been doing wrong. They may even point out to us what needs
to be uprooted, or pruned; what needs more attention. We may want them to
fulfill one purpose but they may be there to fulfill another.
I met a guy who wanted to cherish me and plant me in his
garden. But while some parts of his garden was sufficient (his kind hearted nature
and good stable job) other parts were over grown (disorderly children and the drama
that goes with it), and choking the life out of him. For me to allow myself to
be planted there would easily suggest that I would have my neck squeezed. This
affected him, emotionally and financially and it stunted his growth. His mind
was foggy from the hallucinatory mushrooms he had growing in his garden
(vices-drinking, smoking), He was distracted by the ciaos from the seeds (children)
he produced. They stole his time, money, mental clarity and desire to live and
dream more abundantly. He associated himself with other gardeners whose gardens
were similar to his. He was not accustom to planting the kind of seeds in his garden
that would give him the sustenance he needed to properly and wisely take care
of his garden. Then he met me. He wanted to plant me in his garden; he wanted
me to stay…even the night. It was obvious to me that he had some of the tools
he needed: he was kind, gentle, sweet, protecting, somewhat tempered, and
giving. And though he was suited for a simple, minuscule task (sex/love/affection) it wasn’t enough for
me, the more complex, complicated gardener. In no way was I suggesting my
garden was perfect and needed no work, it was just that he had too much ciaos
in his to help me with mine, but I could help him with his, as long as I wasn’t
selfish. I wanted to take the high road; forgetting about my carnal desires or
satisfying an itch. But offer him the kind of care the Master Gardner would. This
would require on my part self control and compassion. I could offer him some
gardening tips but nothing more.
Then there was this other guy. I had invited him to visit my
garden. I was transparent; I had nothing to hide and no desire for artificial
flowers (false pretenses). It was so
much easier to be honest about what was growing in my garden, especially
because I was genuinely interested in doing what was necessary for it to be as
fulfilling and productive as possible. I was somewhat content with my garden
though never satisfied. I tried to show around my entire garden and explain to
him the toil behind what had been cultivated and the truth about the neglected
and unproductive parts of it but he only seemed to be interested in my calla
lilies. I could see he had potential. But I’ve learned from past experience to
not get caught up in potential. I really wanted to see what he’d done with the
rest of his garden but I was never allowed into the inner court of it. I could
only think he had something to hide. His inner court was surrounded by a brick
wall that made it impossible for me to smell, see or touch whatever he had
growing in it. I wondered, what type of people he allowed in there. I don’t
think living in the same state would permit me to find that out.
Though he
welcomed me into what I call a lounging area of his outer court. From time to
time he would give me snapshots and superficial conversation about the rest of
his garden but never was I invited to experience it firsthand, up close and
personal. He was clearly interested in me fulfilling simple, minuscule tasks outside
his inner court, in that lounging area that was filled with bouquets of what
ifs, sensuous smells of deception and floral aroma’s of debauchery like bliss.
What was he hiding, would he ever tear those walls down, would he ever invite
me into the inner court of his garden, what would I find upon my arrival, would
it be a visit or would I run away never to return? His outer court was very
beautiful, attractive, captivating and alluring. It would make any woman want
to know or see what the inner court was like. Was he being cautious, had he
experienced the degradation of planting the wrong people in it?
