“Kind hearts are the gardens,

Kind thoughts are the roots,

Kind words are the flowers,

Kind deeds are the fruits.”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We say we want to change the world.  Then we step away from the idea, saying it is beyond us to take on such a huge task.  There is no way that one individual can change the whole world for the better — or is there?

I live in a little tiny town called Macungie.  It covers only one square mile of land.  I would tell you to pay attention as you drive through on Route 100, because if you blink you just might miss it; but there is a reason why this is not true.  On the side of Route 100 — our Main Street — just before the railroad tracks, there is a Flower Garden.

Things are beginning to wind down there as Fall approaches, but the beautiful colors command our attention even when the lush days of summer have dwindled.  Look to the left, and there’s color.

Look to the right — more color.

Turn around, and…well, you get the idea.

As you probably have guessed, pictures simply don’t begin to convey the wonder of this oasis that pops up out of nowhere beside a busy road and railroad tracks.  Where did that come from, you may wonder?  And the answer to that question is a tale that Longfellow would have enjoyed.  In the early days of our town, a hotel stood on the spot.  In the 1980’s, there was a fire; and ultimately, the hotel was demolished, leaving a vacant spot of bare land where it once had flourished.  Then, along came a man with a dream — a vision, if you will — whose kind heart produced the kind thought, the kind words, and ultimately the kind deed that changed one little corner of the world.

The land was acquired by retired Judge Robert K. Young.  He then donated the plot to the town, and the magic soon began.  The Young family spearheaded the building of the framework of what now is our Flower Garden.  Landscaping was done, paths were laid, and a fountain was erected in the center of it all.  The groundwork was laid, and it was time for the work to begin.  What a huge job it would be for one family to plant and weed and maintain this garden!

When the structure was built, a plaque was placed near the entrance.  It would be only natural for Judge Young to take credit for his dream come true; but instead the plaque reads:

Another reason why you will not blink and miss our little town is that it is a place where volunteers make things happen.  And so it was with the Flower Garden.  The local garden club arrived in swarms and planted and weeded and watered and tended — and ten years later, volunteers still see that the garden flourishes.  Each marigold that is planted adds to the beauty.  Each weed that is pulled helps keep the garden beautiful.  And the most beautiful thing of all is the way that the vision of one man became the dream of many men and women — each bringing an individual piece that joined with many others and made the dream real.

We can learn from this garden when we feel discouraged and think that one small kindness will go unnoticed and never change the world.  I like to think that we could transform our world into a kindness garden if each of us is willing to plant tiny seeds wherever we go, if each of us is willing to undo the hurt and pull the weeds that keep kindness from taking root, if each of us takes the time to recognize the small kindnesses that others bring our way.  I have a dream of a garden where kindness blooms and flourishes.  Any volunteers?