From Pews to Garden Views: An Inspiring Journey of Faith and 1 Gardener Transformation.

Garden Transformation: From the Pews of St Peter and St. Paul to Garden Views. Revelation “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Well, let me tell you, Julie and everyone reading, I’ve knocked on many doors, and each time they answered, it was like opening a new chapter in my life. Every knock brought a new adventure, a fresh perspective a different view, and a chance to grow. It’s amazing how a simple act of reaching out can lead to profound life changes.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

My older brother offered me a job in his garden, and my younger brother shared verses from the Bible that inspired me to join a Christian drama group in Hastings. It changed my life forever.

When I look back, I realise it all started like most things—with Jesus, so innocently. It began with a cup of tea with Julie and her husband David, after a long sermon at church and a short sketch that I participated in. It had been a long week at work.

During that conversation, I announced my plans to open a business, beyond helping my older brother, which was always a pleasure but another story. (I may tell that one soon.)

Julie and David’s encouragement and support were instrumental in helping me realise my potential and pursue my dreams. They showed me that with hard work, dedication, and a bit of faith, I could achieve more than I ever thought possible.

Julie’s husband, a fellow thespian, was first a friend. I joined their house group and then their church, St. Peter & St. Paul’s, where I met delightful people who truly felt like family. At that time, they honestly behaved like one.

Fits of laughter filled our gatherings, production after production. As you guessed, I made a great sheep at Christmas—tushay! Admittedly, so did the vicar Luke leading his flock of three to barr without warning, such lovely memories. I once told Luke I think God talks to me and his response was elevating:- turn the telly off at night before sleeping, less likely to get inaccurate messages. Our 80-year-old Mary and Joseph were definitely controversial and a cause for laughter. I think Katie was the director sorry for the sheep talk lol.

Committee meetings often changed directions and I witnessed miracles in productions hampered to oblivion, only to return as professional-looking pieces.

I reminisce a lot over those precious times and miss them dearly. However, 17 dress changes felt excessive in the Nativity David. LOL

David’s legacy lives on as a major contributor to his church. His help is still felt now. David always had my back, introducing me to being a welcomer at church. Now I believe he probably is just around the corner, always just out of sight, where he waits for his true love. It is romantic but I believe it to be true. We should all be comforted by these thoughts.

I guess the world is a stage and we all play our own part, after all, there are seven ages to man, I once saw a play about it. When we exit though, do we really know how much effect on lives we interacted with, we have had on others? I refer you to Linkin Park with their question – in the end though does is it really matter? I think so.

The real magic happened in Julie’s garden not on a pew. As I stated before, one of the first garden projects I assisted with, and probably one of the biggest gardens I have taken care of, was Julie’s. Recently, Rosemary and I, accompanied by Julie, walked around the garden, just wanting to cut and prune as required but we reminisced instead. I asked daft questions on whether the banana plant really produced fruit. Going off topic: The banana plant doesn’t apparently, I reckon it begrudges fruiting due to the cold. Enthusiasm and energy were ever-present in the visit and one honeysuckle was looking very energetic on the garage wall. We went for lunch and it was just nice to be in a good friend’s company, although the debate with the pub where we took a vote on mushy peas or normal peas was hilarious. I can’t remember the verdict but it was unanimous.

Things continued to develop over many years. Both David and Julie encouraged others to open their gardens to show them to others for donations to cancer research. I pushed my friend Annette Porter around in her wheelchair and many gardens were viewed. I was delighted to get her out for the day and she was over the moon my back didn’t give out on that day.

I felt after two years I had poured my heart and soul into helping plant Julie’s little piece of paradise in Hastings under her guidance. Both Rosemary and I remember making an asserted effort to make it to the garden for a Covid special where we got served in the garden. Was it tea though? I am not sure. lol

Of course, it was the beginning but not the end. From all new things comes opportunity, and Julie knew that she had set a seed not just in the open gardens, which did succeed, but also in me. She planted a seed of “I can do this and succeed in it, in my own way.”

My gardener ethos was established – I wanted to be the hands, arms, and legs of others. To achieve what they wanted in their garden when they couldn’t do it, not just what needed doing for the sake of it. In website design language, I was the point-and-click, and the job was done.

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It was never truly just about the gardens, the flowers and the shrubs, though they were always beautiful. It was about the creation I felt, the memories we and others created in their garden over tea. It was especially important through COVID-19. The connection between the house and the garden was always engaging and welcoming, with most customers you could not get through the door of the house and it was the only period in my life where my purpose was to talk and garden.

The finest advice Julie gave me was that you cannot please all people, the customers, all of the time, otherwise, you are God and even he struggles with that dilemma. Free will is a gift, I only denied others a few times lol, thankfully, but I learnt to recognise when things were going sour and politely make an exit. Later I learnt, from a lovely customer, that it was better to take the moral high ground from, a better route and I’m always thankful for that chat.

From lamb shanks and the wasps that Julie chased away on the decking, to grey squirrel chasing and daffodil pattern planting, to the horse manure laid on the front clear bed, every moment was special. Impromptu and limitless, I tried to project the caring and unforgettable essence of the place in my twelve years as a gardener. It was a testament to how, if you endure, you not only achieve but also watch faces light up.

Friendship through hard work is fun, it is a gift. This can be one of the greatest gifts you can give and receive. Every autumn, with the sun out, I would clean the gutters, stand on the ladder, and wish nostalgically for the view not to disappear. I found other gutters over the years, but none brought me such a feeling as climbing a ladder, so close to making me feel like God’s favourite.

Special mention to my wife, Rosemary Cooke, whom I met at church through her Mum & Dad, Derek and Charmaine. Yes, we were married at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s church. My mother-in-law is also there. By good coincidence, Shades Theatre still goes on to the present day, with Charmaine as the chairman. I hope it never disappears as I cherish it. It is a nice church of people at Shades. that I went to for a while!

To the many friends, too many to mention, you all mattered over the years, even the ones left behind. You know who you are, and you are missed too. To my Julie, big hugs thanks for letting me write this.

In much loving memory of David Henty, Annette Porter (Jewitt Davis) and my Aunty Pam—all of whom made me, laugh, cry and even work for. My Aunty Pam, whom I only worked for once, it was a promise that was kept from the age of 18 till 48. She still wanted a hedge cutter in her 90s and I may have agreed in 2024, but she passed away. Aunty Pam, you are missed. She needed a mention, as I loved her dearly.

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All the best Tom.