The Parable of the Garden by Davin Dahlgren, May 1996 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a beautiful garden which a certain man found as he journeyed. The garden was surrounded by a high wall and there was just one gate through which it could be entered. The man considered all that he had heard about the wondrous beauty of the garden and, believing, entered through the gate. Inside, he saw many others who had come to see the garden seated along the wall, some on lawn chairs, others reclining on the grass. They all welcomed him warmly. One of those who were there gave the man a book which listed many wonderful plants that could be found in the garden and where along the path they could be found. It contained descriptions of leaves and flowers, their colors, and for some, even the seasons in which they bloom. A guide approached the man and said, "Come, I will show you wonders which are marvelous to behold." The man thanked the guide, but declined saying, "I am quite literate and I have been given this book which I intend to read." The guide sadly withdrew as the man took his place among the other visitors to the garden and began to read. He read of many wonders and flowers of great beauty. He imagined what those should be like. He even memorized the descriptions which struck him as being the most beautiful and quoted them readily to anyone who wished to hear them. He and the others often discussed and debated the subtleties of various plants about which they had read. Many times, they disagreed about the interpretation of a particular passage and argued heatedly over who was more knowledgeable and capable of determining the truth of the matter. There were so many disputes that the visitors eventually grouped themselves according to a particular interpretation which they found to be sensible in their reason, and they no longer associated with any of the others. Occasionally, the guide would return and plead with them. "Come, a flower of most glorious wonder is in bloom. It is but a few paces down the path. Will not anyone come to see it?" Most of the visitors spurned his efforts, but one or two would follow. Those came back full of joy and shared what they had seen. But those who had stayed behind did not believe, nor did they go to see for themselves. Instead, they reviled those who returned and chided them. "Your description is wrong! We have read the book, and we know all that it says. What you have described cannot possibly be true. You must have been led into error!" Therefore did those who had seen but a little turn back to seek to see more, while the rest remained behind and continued to teach each other from the book only. Those who went and explored the garden saw many beautiful things, and found no end of grand plants to see and smell and feel. But the others never saw anything of beauty in the garden, only grew angrier at one another and more rigid and insistent in their beliefs. [Return to Spiritual Studies]