Garden Sights Ten Years Apart

Anna and I left the campus of the Christian Medical College, Vellore in 2010 on retirement after staying there for 13 years as members of the faculty in the college.

During one of our long revisits to the campus in October 2013, we walked along the paths fascinated by the gardens in the campus. Most of the independent houses have trees, shrubs, ornamental plants and potted plants around the house and the family uses the backyard for their kitchen gardens. This was made possible because the houses were getting recycled water for garden use. 

During a recent visit, in January, 2023  to the campus, Anna and I went to have a view of the house at 350, South Road,  where we lived for nine years. This house is now occupied by the Principal of the college. The house had gardens on three sides of the house when we lived there. Now the garden is even more alive with colourful plants decorating all four sides of the house.

 

The view from the upper floor of the Alumni house to the garden outside the Big Bungalow was breathtaking on a winter morning. The oval garden in front and the majestic trees surrounding the stately building on three sides, reflected the flourishing garden culture that still prevails in the CMC campus. 

When we returned to our cottage after four days of stay at the  CMC campus,  we were welcomed by a rose plant which my mother planted about thirty years ago, still flowering almost through out the year. 

 

The garden outside reminds me of a garden inside each of us. This garden is a collection of events, experiences and memories that we lay up. 

As I listened to a family from Queensland in Australia during an on-line consultation yesterday, the family spoke about the changes they observed in their child since their visit to the department where I work, about four months ago. I felt fascinated by the spectrum of observations they have had about their son. Both parents talked enthusiastically and affectionately about their child. They were open to share about their struggles. One thing was clear that they were thinking earnestly and paying attention to the needs of their son, which was making a difference.

At the end of that forty-five minute conversation, I felt touched by the open, nurturing attitude of these parents and the way in which they were moving nearer to their son and supporting his development by choosing to help him. That is when it occurred to me in a refreshing way, that we can make our inner garden blossom by remembering and recalling people in our lives and the lessons learned during our association with them! 

The inner garden is the space where we welcome others and make them grow in our esteem and regards! When that happens we are becoming up-builders of others!

It occurred to me that when a person feels touched or guided when they meet us, then it is our inner orientation towards them that has brought renewal to them!

M C Mathew (text and photo)