The questions weren't new and have been asked by thousands of unfortunate people for centuries. Why must I suffer so much? And if I had to suffer, why did my family and friends have to endure with me?All I had tried to do was to earn a decent living while treating my employees and others fairly. I had tried to live by the old injunction to "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God." But in spite of my efforts it came crashing down-and fast. After the loss of the company, the comfort and security we had known as a family vanished as mist before the morning sun.

We lost our home and most of our possessions. We sold a few remaining pieces of furniture in order to buy groceries. One of the most difficult sacrifices I was forced to make was to give away Rajah. It was he who had sat beside me as I conversed with Gideon. Overwhelmed and despondent, I began questioning everything I held sacred. The question was not "Where was Gideon?" but, "Where was God?" Eventually we moved to another state in a desperate effort to start over.

And then, as a final blow, my father, descendant of Mahn Singh of Bharat, passed away. Many were the sorrowful moments I spent alone but, even so, a new understanding was dawning. On quiet evenings as I drove home from work I could still hear his voice in my head.

While commuting one evening,I was thinking how scarce Gideon had become during my troubles. Why couldn't I see him when I needed him most? Suddenly the sound of sirens sent me searching my rear view mirror. Startled, I saw the flashing lights of a state trooper preparing to pull me over. Not now, not now! I can't afford a ticket. I must have been so absorbed in my thoughts that I forgot about the speed limit. I pulled over to the shoulder of the road and nervously fumbled through the papers in the glove compartment as I awaited the trooper. Apprehensively, I turned around to glance up at the smiling face of the bearded man and almost dropped the papers in total surprise. "I've been hijacked... Gideon! You... What... I mean..." I couldn't continue. His grin widened as I just stared, dumbfounded in amazement.

"Well, at least say 'Hello'," he demanded.

"It's good to see you again but, for crying out loud, where have you been?" I stammered.

"Just thought you could use a laugh and, as I recall,you wanted to see me."

"Where did you get this car?"

As if it was normal procedure, he calmly replied, "Created it." Ignoring his answer, I said,"I've got to talk to you, but we can't stay here."

"That's why I came. I'll see you at ten tomorrow morning. Here's the address. We'll have lots of time to talk then." Handing me a piece of paper, he gave me a slap on the shoulder, waved, turned around and walked back to his car. I glanced at the address then up to the rear view mirror. He was gone-vanished-just like he used to.

I could hardly contain my excitement as I drove the rest of the way home. Tomorrow I'll see him again. I had lots of questions and, this time, I wanted answers. Tomorrow we shall see, I thought as I pulled into my driveway.

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