A wise widower, two troubled twins, and a beautiful garden. These are the central characters and setting of the novel we review for today’s “Fiction Friday.” And that novel is Jon Gordon’s inspirational fable, The Garden.
Jay and Kay are teenage twins dealing with lots of stress and anxiety – and in Jay’s case, some bullying. Their emotional turmoil has led to health issues, cutting, and even suicidal thoughts. Their neighbor — an old family friend named Mr. Erwin — is hobbled by an injury and mourning the passing of his wife. But he overhears Jay and Kay talking through their problems one day and decides to intervene.
The next time they pass by his house on the way to school, he asks for their help — and shows them a special garden he created in his backyard.
What follows are a series of conversations – over the course of several days – where Mr. Erwin uses the garden as both a ‘safe space’ and metaphor to impart lessons, principles, and strategies on how the twins can overcome their fears and emotional turmoil – and live lives of peace, joy, and fulfillment.
The Garden is a spiritual fable — a departure from the author’s typical body of work.
Most of Mr. Gordon’s books — he has written over 20 — are aimed at business audiences. His other books include The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, and Stay Positive.
He has spoken all over the country, appeared on television and radio, and worked with multiple companies and organizations, including The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, BB&T Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, and the United States Military Academy at West Point.
With The Garden, Jon Gordon takes a professional risk. Not only is this a spiritual fable, but it’s also an explicitly Christian fable. Not only does Gordon impart some tremendous practical wisdom (the 5 D’s) for life, he also clearly presents (via Mr. Erwin) the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Garden is a short book. You should be able to read it in one sitting — two at most. I listened to it on audio during my commute to and from the office. And I’m glad I did.
I recommend The Garden enthusiastically. It’s one of the best inspirational novels I’ve read in a long time.
