Tom is the best gardener we have ever had. His love for our plants and how he tends them reminded me of a loving father looking after his children. But I discovered there was so much more to him. Talking to him was like peeling off the layers of an onion, as each layer revealed something new. He was a soft-spoken and reflective young man with a ready smile who exuded great peace. I felt his presence was a gift to us too, as he brought so much love and joy. Even our plants seem to lean into his touch, and more than once as he cradled a simple daisy, I heard him say, “Hello, beautiful!”

One day as we sat companionably over a cup of tea in my garden, and the sun was shining between the leaves of the trailing wisteria above us, creating a play of light that danced around us. I felt an intimacy about this place. It was safe and nurturing, and I decided to ask Tom about his life. I was moved by his ease and love of the natural environment, and for one so young, I felt he exuded great peace. Was it my imagination to say I felt I sat with a holy man?