Jon Gordon - The Garden - A Spiritual Fable About Ways to Overcome Fear, Anxiety, and Stress

Kay stopped wearing long-sleeved shirts when the cuts healed on her arms. While the light scars were still there, they served as a good reminder of the fear and anxiety that had sabotaged her in the past and the truth that had set her free. Mr. Erwin went to watch her cheering competitions with her dad and mom and could tell she felt free when cheering and no longer worried what people were thinking.

Mr. Erwin encouraged her to perform for an audience of one, the one who created and loved her no matter how she performed. Each performance she remembered him telling her that God doesn't call us to be perfect. He calls us to be faithful and trust in His perfect plan for our imperfect life. It would be advice she would need to draw upon when she tore her ACL at the end of her junior year. At the time it seemed like her dream of cheering in college at one of the finest schools in the country was over. She struggled with doubt and even though she told herself God had a plan, that didn't stop the fear and anxiety from resurfacing. But with Mr. Erwin's help and their weekly talks she didn't let the fear and anxiety take hold. She prayed often for help, for strength, for guidance, and for a miracle. It was a long year of uncertainty and rehab but she made it back to the stage her senior year. The experience taught her patience and trust and leadership. She couldn't perform while she was injured so she learned to help her team by encouraging them and discovered her leadership voice in the process.

Her desire to be successful was replaced with a desire to serve and lead her team. The difference was less stress and more passion, and when she cheered with her team again, she did so with more joy and faith. In the past she cheered with the hope it would get her into her dream school. But now she cheered because she loved it and loved her team. She ended up getting into a great college. It wasn't her dream school but she knew it was the right school for her and received the academic scholarship she had worked so hard for. And just when she thought her cheering career was over, she received a call from the college cheering coach, letting her know she could try out as a walk-on if she wanted to. She told Mr. Erwin if it was meant to be and was part of God's plan, it would happen. She wasn't worried about it. She knew who she was and trusted God knew what was best for her and her future.

Mr. Erwin loved seeing the twins take on their challenges with optimism, hope, faith, belief, and trust. They knew the battle they faced but weren't scared of it. They walked and talked like champions who knew they were victorious and would eventually overcome any setback they faced. No longer would they allow fear to paralyze them, anxiety to control them, or stress to sabotage them. They knew they were in a battle. They knew the enemy's game plan. And they knew how to counter it. They had become great students. But what impressed him most is when they showed up one day to teach him something.

Chapter 14

The 8th D

After high school graduation, before Mr. Erwin took his summer trip to the mountains, the twins arrived at his house with their older brother. Damon had just gotten out of rehab. It was his second time there because he had started using drugs again after his first visit. The twins wanted him to meet Mr. Erwin and found him in the backyard.

“Hey Mr. Erwin,” said Kay. “We want you to meet our older brother, Damon.”

Mr. Erwin put the watering hose down and reached out and shook Damon's hand and said hello. He looked into his eyes and could tell he had been fighting a losing battle for a while.

“Do you want me to tell him about the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden?” he asked, expecting Jay and Kay to say yes.

“Actually, we already told him the story,” said Kay.

“And we told him about the Five D's,” said Jay.

“We brought him here because we wanted to thank you for teaching us, so that way we could teach him,” said Kay. “It's helping him a lot.”

“It is,” said Damon. “It's very eye opening. Now I know why I've been losing the battle. And I'm grateful I now have a plan to win. Who would have thought my younger brother and sister would have the answers I needed?”

“It's the answers we all need,” said Mr. Erwin.

“Yeah, that's also why we are here,” said Kay. “We believe everyone needs to learn what you taught us, so we decided there needed to be an eighth D.”

“What's the eighth D?” asked Mr. Erwin curiously.

“It's Disciple,” said Jay. “Once you learn about the Five D's and how to win the battle that will lead you to your Destiny then it's important that you share it with others to disciple them. Your destiny is never about yourself. Every hero knows they were made for others, to help others, and it's about taking action to do this.”

“Disciple as a verb means to teach,” said Kay. “You learn it and then you teach it to those you want to help.”

“Like me,” said Damon.

“I love that,” said Mr. Erwin. “Thank you for teaching me this. I guess it's fitting then that I got you these for your graduation.” He reached into his pocket and held up an identical coin in each hand. On one side of the coin it had the Five D's and on the other side it had the way to overcome each D. It looked like this:

“I was originally giving these to you so when you go off to college you wouldn't forget these lessons. But now I know I was supposed to give them to you so you can disciple and help others as well. I can't wait to hear about all the people you encourage and see the difference you make.”

“We're excited,” said Kay. “We know it won't be easy. The enemy doesn't want these simple truths out there so he will create a lot of doubt, distortion, and distraction and do whatever it can to stop us from sharing and reaching people. It will be a challenge for sure, but we know this is our purpose and we had to go through the battle in order to help others win it.”

“We are stronger for it,” said Jay.

“Yes you are. I'm so proud of you both,” said Mr. Erwin as he pointed to all the trees and paused with tears in his eyes. Then he grabbed a piece of fruit from the Tree of Life. “And don't forget to keep nourishing yourselves as you seek to help others. Your mind and soul is like a garden. You need to weed the negative and feed the positive each day. If you do it just one time it won't do much. But if you weed and feed the garden of your mind and soul for a week, a month, a year, seven years, and a lifetime, your garden will look magnificent and you'll produce amazing fruit.”

Mr. Erwin looked at the piece of fruit in his hand and then took a big bite out of it, smiled, and said, “And always remember, whatever you are going through keep believing the best is yet to come. God has a plan!”

The End.

About the Author

Jon Gordon is a husband, father, author, and speaker who has inspired millions of readers around the world. He is the author of 20 books, including eight bestsellers: 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 is passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations, and teams. Connect with Jon at JonGordon.com.

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