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posted at 09:09 pm on 11-14-2008
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Carl's Garden
posted at 09:09 pm on 11-14-2008
Carl's Garden
Carl was a quiet man.
He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm
handshake.
Even after living in
our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very
well.
Before
his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him
walking down the street often worried us.
He had a slight limp
from a bullet wound received in WWII.
Watching
him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through
our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence,
gangs, and drug activity.
When he
saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the
gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically
unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.
He was
well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally
happened.
He was
just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him.
Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, 'Would you like a
drink from the hose?'
The
tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, 'Yeah, sure,' with a malevolent
little smile.
As Carl offered the
hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose
snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants
stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.
Carl
tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay
there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him.
Although
the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there
fast enough to stop it.
'Carl,
are you okay? Are you hurt?' the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his
feet.
Carl
just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head. 'Just some punk
kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday.'
His wet
clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted
the nozzle again and started to water.
Confused and a little
concerned, the minister asked, 'Carl, what are you doing?' 'I've got to finish
my watering. It's been very dry lately,' came the calm reply.
Satisfying
himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel. Carl was
a man from a different time and place.
A few
weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was
unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose
This
time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him
head to foot in the icy water.
When
they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street,
throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity
of what they had just done.
Carl
just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun, picked up his
hose, and went on with his watering.
The
summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was
startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into
some evergreen branches.
As he
struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer
tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack.
'Don't
worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time.'
The young man spoke
softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl
get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.
'What's
this?' Carl asked. 'It's your stuff,' the man explained. 'It's your stuff back.
Even the money in your wallet.' 'I don't understand,' Carl said. 'Why would you
help me now?'
The man
shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. 'I learned something from
you,' he said. 'I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you
because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did
something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a
drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our
hate.'
He stopped for a
moment. 'I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back.'
He
paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. 'That
bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess.' And with that,
he walked off down the street.
Carl
looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his
retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked
for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still
smiled back at him from all those years ago.
He died
one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in
spite of the weather.
In
particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting
quietly in a distant corner of the church.
The
minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life.
In a voice made thick
with unshed tears, he said, 'Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as
you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden.'
The
following spring another flyer went up. It read: 'Person needed to care for
Carl's garden.'
The
flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners u ntil one day when a knock was
heard at the minister's office door.
Opening
the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the
flyer. 'I believe this is my job, if you'll have me,' the young man said.
The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the
stolen watch and wallet to Carl.
He knew
that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the minister handed
him the keys to the garden shed, he said, 'Yes, go take care of Carl's garden
and honor him.'
The man
went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and
vegetables just as Carl had done.
During
that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the
community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden
as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.
One day
he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden
any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, 'My wife just had a baby
boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday.'
'Well,
congratulations!' said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys.
'That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?'
'Carl,' he replied
That's
the whole gospel message simply stated.
(Comments)
posted at 04:26 pm on 10-26-2008
(Comments)
Quiz profile about me (copy and fill in your own answers)
posted at 04:26 pm on 10-26-2008
1)name: Kayla.
2) Male/Female: Female.
3) Were you named after anyone?: TV character Kayla (Days of Our Lives) Brady Johnson
4) Does your name mean anything?: Purity
5) Nickname(s):Skittles
6) What do you think you look like... name wise: People say my name suits me well.
7) Date of birth: June 26
8) Place of birth and current location: South Carolina
11) Chinese astrology sign: Dragon
12) Religion: Christian
13) What's your favorite smell?:Any thing sweet or fruity
14) Political Position?: Ron Regan type Conservative Republican
15) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?: Fruit Juice.
16) Hair + eye color: Hair: Brown with some blond streaks Eyes: Blue(this is what the predominate color was) or various since they change color alot I don't really have a permanent color
17) Do you look like anyone famous?: Not that I know of
18) What do you look like?: A lot say I look like Punky Brewster
19) Any unusual talents?: Yeah a good bit. I can flex myself in awkward ways that may look painful but aren't to me.
I'm able to cause myself to faint for real but its dangerous and can really hurt you so I do not recommend it nor will I explain how I've done it.
20) Righty, lefty, or ambidextrous?: right handed
21) Gay, straight, bi, or other?: Asexual (Means I do not experience sexual attraction nor like sex)
22) What do you do for a living?: Entrepreneur .I make and sell jewelry.
23) What do you do for fun?: Go outside and find adventure. Like places to explore.
24) What are your favorite art materials to work with?: Beads, Paint and various tools
25) What kind of materials would you like to work with?:. Well I’d kinda like a welder.
26) Have you met your grandparents?: Yes I lived with them and most of mine are still living. I’ve even meet my Great Great Grandma.
27) Boyfriend/Girlfriend: None and for me its better this way
28) Crush: Never had one
29) What celebrity would you date if you could?: Not really date but to hang out I would have to say Bam Margeria or Johnny Knocksville.
30) Current worries?:I have my cross to bare but try not to worry too much.
31) Favorite online guy/girl(s): Thats my secret besides don't want to out anyone.
32) Favorite place to be?: Outside or somewhere doing things and having good times. Especially Church. Irish Pubs and sitting at the bar (No I don't smoke or drink I have a few sodas and some Cheese fries or fried mushrooms). Its the Irish way.
33) Least favorite place to be? In a high class fancy setting or stuck on a computer for hours on end especially at night.
34) Do you burn or tan?: I burn easily but I always take other measures to prevent it
1)
35) Ever break a bone?: No.
36) What is your favorite cereal?: Anything colorful and sugar like fruity pebbles and lucky charms.
37) Person you cry with: No one human. Last time was when my dog Tiger was euthanized. Which was my mom.
Do you have...
38) Any sisters: No
39) Any brothers: 1 15 year old half brother.
40) Any pets: My dog Shadow and my cat Lucy
41) An illness: I have Asperger Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
42) A pager: No
43) A personal phone line: Yeah we have 2 lines.
44) A cell phone: Yes, on a family share plan
45) A visible birthmark: No.
46) A pool or hot tub: I wish
47) A car: I don’t drive
Describe your...
48) Personality: Religious, kind, playful, funny, immature, smart, outgoing, creative, and upbeat
49) Driving: I don't drive a car. But I like off road vehicles like ATVs and my scooter or skateboard. Walking is preferable too. But one day learning to drive a biplane would be great.
50) Your clothing style: Several. Goth, Punk, 70's with loud colors and lots of my colorful shiny jewelry and hair accessories (Most comes from Clarie's and Hottopic).
51) Room: Blue and purple walls, Autographs from Bill Engvall(whom I've meet),Jeff Foxworthy,Ron White, Dr.Robert Taylor and Holocaust surviver Marion Blumenthal , Mike Huckabee, John McCain, and John Walsh, mask on the walls, things that express or inspire me in a special way
52) What's missing: Well I guess a few things here and there.
53) School: High school special needs. I do really well I make straight A's, won The Who's Who Among Americas High School Students twice, and am in the Society of High School Students. (Like I say disability or not anyone can do it if they try)
54) Bed: Does it matter?
55) Relationship with your parent(s): It differs from one to another. Otherwise good
56) Do you believe in yourself?: Yes I had a hard time for a long time but now I hold my head up high and know that God will help me. Because if you believe in yourself you can do anything.
57) Do you believe in love at first sight?: I don't have an answer since nothing like this has ever really occurred to me
58) Consider yourself a good listener?: I try but have a hard time at times.
59) Have a future dream that you would like to share?: I'm a big dreamer and I have a lot I want to do. Especially in the arts like painting,crafts,graphics,acting,writing.
Lately I have kinda been thinking of being a Private Investigation Cop. While yes I have disability's that would limit me to certain things but with what I can do I know I could do it. I'm sure I could be a Narc, catch internet predators by pretending to be a 13 year old girl, or be a decoy in a sting op. No one in my family knows this I have asked what they would think if I was as a hypothetical question but none of them seem to like that idea. Still I'll decide in the end what I want to do.
60) Get along with your parents?: when it comes to certain things yes .
61) Save your e-mail conversations?: Depends on what it is
62) Pray?: Every night
63) Believe in reincarnation?:No
64) Brush your teeth twice a day?:Yes
65) Like to talk on the phone?: Not really but I'm working on doing it more.
66) Like to eat?: Differs from time to time
67) Like to exercise?: Yes. I go to the gym here
68) Like to watch sports?: No I like to play certain ones. I can't watch since I like to be in action
69) Sing in the car?: If I'm with my mom and the radio is cranked up
70) What is a dream that you have all the time?: Just doing really cool things and sometimes they are weird but give me messages and metaphors. Lately I've been seeing things that end up happening or I see it in real life.
71) Dream in color? Yes and they inspire me a lot on my art and writing. I also like to interpret them. Sometime they inspire me in other ways of life
72) Do you have nightmares?: That depends sometimes I find what most would call a nightmare to be entertaining since I know I'm dreaming. But sometimes you see some unpleasant things or metaphors that leave a bad picture in your mind.
Like this one I had with this rock song lyric that repeated the phrase “Slow Loco” Which I fould out means slow crazy. Makes me wonder if it means I’m going crazy.
73) Sleep with a stuffed animal?: Yes.
74) What's right next to you?: My DogShadow
75) What's on your favorite mug?: The one I painted.
76) What's on your mouse pad?: Duh! A mouse.
77) Your favorite flavor of gum: Anything Fruity
78) Your brand of deodorant: Toms Of Main
79) Your dream honeymoon spot: N/A
80) Your dream husband/wife: Not interested in being married I'm more of a friend type
81) What's hiding in your closet?: Lots of shirts and stuff for my creative individual style
82) Under your bed: Just stuff in shoe boxes
83) The name of one of your closest/best friends: Corey
84) Your bad time of the day: I'm fine with any part of the day
85) Your worst fear(s): Losing my mind.
86) What's the weather like: Nice and Hot the way I like it
87) Your favorite time of year?: Summer
88) Your favorite holiday?:April Fools
89) A material weakness?: Colorful shiny things
90) The weirdest food or drink that you like: Tofu
91) At the top of your "to-do list"?: Get my business going.
92) The hardest thing about growing up: Wishing I didn't have to. In the past it was very tough on me I was a constant bully victim, unwanted, and misunderstood by many
93) A pet peeve?: People with no sense of fun and those that have to be such wet blankets.
94) Your scariest moment: Was when I was in 6th grade and all the boys ganged up on me.
95) Your attitude about love?:I'm for love between family and friends. Which also counts my brothers and sisters in Christ and God himself.
96) The funniest or most desperate thing you've done to get the attention of the opposite sex? Never a seeker I like friends and that’s it.
97) The worst feeling in the world: Rejection and Depression
98) The best feeling in the world: Joy and Laughter. Knowing you helped someone and made a difference.
99)Favorite genre of music?: Christian ,Punk,irish,rock,pop,oldies,new wave,calypso and heavy metal.
100) Lover or Fighter?: Fighter
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