How is your garden

Episode 3, April 2010
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With spring around the corner and our eyes being drawn towards the shoots of green turning up around us, it's hard to deny the urges within to dust off the ol' green thumb. Perhaps it's also a good time to think about our lives and ask the question, how is your garden?

Welcome to this Two Mile Stretch; April 2010, episode three.

This month my little girl turns one year old and I couldn't be more proud of her, taking great pride in seeing her learn so many new things, discovering so many new wonders in the world, and growing like a tulip shooting out of the soil towards the sun. She is my pride and my joy. Just ask anyone who knows me and they'll heartily concur.

As a father, I've noticed a strong metaphorical connection between being the parent of a child and tending to the flowers in my garden. Over the years, I've had beautiful gardens filled with dozens of perennial varieties, and have had what I call domesticated jungles — a garden where weeds have choked out any and all potential for beauty. It probably goes without saying that the neighbors prefer the former over the latter — neatly orchestrated groupings of flowers over the clutter of weeds gone wild.

There's no doubt about it, a beautiful garden doesn't happen by accident, nor on its own. Left unkempt it grows wild, out of control, and is given into whatever weeds may have decided to reside there. And it gets even worse, you could kill off your investment in the heat of the sun by not offering your plants water, sufficient space and structure to grow, and nourishment to help them reach their fullest potential.

Now, I'm no expert gardener and would never pretend to be so. I've had my fair share of gardens that start out with great intentions, only for them to end up as a source of discussion for my neighbors at their dinner tables. Whether it be a humid, 90-degree day or just coming home tired after a long day at work, there have been a host of reasons why I neglected my gardens. I just put off pulling a few weeds here and there, or neglect to take a moment to water the flowers, or spend a few minutes turning the compost pile. But from first-hand experience, one day's neglect can easily turn into a summer of regret, wishing I would have just taken a little bit of time here and there to make my garden a thing of beauty.

When I watch my daughter as she sleeps in her crib, I think a lot about my life, my upbringing, all the opportunities, and all the good things cultivated into my life. I also think about all the proverbial weeds that have sprung up along the way, and the various seasons of my life when I felt desperate for sustenance — times when I really could have used some love and encouragement from a friend.

And when I look a little deeper, I see a beautiful flower in my life, one that I've been given the responsibility to care for, to nurture, to love and sustain to the end of my days. I would be a fool to neglect the garden, that is the life of my child — allowing even but one day to pass when weeds might spring up around her, choking away her innocence; or let her heart grow dry in thinking that she is not loved; or for her mind, heart and soul to go malnourished without good things tilled into her life.

It's a labor of love that requires daily diligence. But the rewards are sweet and have dividends with an everlasting value. And with spring rapidly approaching, it'd be a great time for us all to stop and ask ourselves the question, how is your garden?

Here's a short poem for today simply entitled "Lily"

"Lily"

With the seed buried deep in the soil
A beautiful story is being be told
Filled with mystery, wonder and toil
As radient petals and stems unfold

We've some inclination of what she'll be like
Visions of who we hope her to be
Reaching, growing, and emanating light
With her many intricate subtleties

We labor each day, tilling and nurturing the earth
Offering sustenance and life for her to grow
For we want to see her stand firm in the worth
Instilled with the hope and the love that we sow

Not a day goes by, not a moment will pass
When I stop and enjoy all that she is and will be
I pour in my heart and soul as I kneel in the grass
And thank my God for my daughter, my precious Lily

Before we proceed on with the featured song this month, I want to take a moment to thank you for expressing your support for this podcast. It's no small undertaking each month, writing thoughtful commentary, original poetry, shooting photographs, writing and recording a new song each month that ties in the overall theme, and then compiling it into multiple formats. On average, I will pour in 30 to 40 hours of my heart and soul to create this unique expression. And while it is a labor of love for me, please consider taking a moment to share Two Mile Stretch with your friends and family on Facebook and your other social networks. And if you really enjoyed some of the songs or were captivated by one of the photographs, please consider purchasing the mp3's or a 5" x 7" print for your wall. Your patronage helps affirm me that this is a worthwhile endeavor. Thank you. And now on with the featured song.

The featured song this month is called "Your Face", something I wrote for my daughter on her first birthday. Happy Birthday, Lily.

"Your Face"
Words and music by Michael Tangen

The day I saw, you open your eyes
Morning broke in a radiant sunrise
Overwhelmed by the gift in my hands
So much joy I could hardly stand

(chorus:)
I know the plans I have for you
To raise you well 'til my days are through
But there's one thing that time cannot take
The mem'ry of your face

I see you learning to walk on your own
And can't believe how much you have grown
I know some day you will go your own way
But I'll still cherish the beauty of your face

chorus

When you look back through the years that have past
I hope that these words will some how last
That there's one thing the world can't replace
The beauty of my little girl's face

Two Mile Stretch is a collection of reflections, poetry, photographs and music by Michael Tangen. All works are copyright 2010, all rights reserved. To purchase the featured song or to order prints of the photographs used in this podcast, visit twomilestretch.com, and then select episode three from the episode tab.

Thank you for listening to Two Mile Stretch. Your support, feedback and patronage is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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