| #ffffff;" /> | | | | Even with your busy schedule, would you turn down a |
| We walked into the kitchen and he sat as I poured him | | | | poor salesman,without giving him a chance? Had you |
| a cup of his favorite brew.I felt an overwhelming sense | | | | learned patience and compassion? Would you give |
| of joy at seeing Gideon again. It was he, who had | | | | me or any other fellow human being a few minutes of |
| stood beside me,comforted me, taught me and helped | | | | your time or would you be so self-centered that you |
| me during my years of tribulation. I had never forgotten | | | | wouldn’t be bothered? We needed to have |
| our times together, but I always wondered what had | | | | some of these questions answered.” |
| become of him and Marla. Where were they when | | | | “You mean you were testing me? That |
| my wife died?” | | | | wasn’t necessary. I’ve been through |
| “I can already hear the thousands of questions | | | | quite enough tests in the last few years, |
| you’ve got lined up in your mind, John,” he | | | | Gideon.” |
| said as I handed him his coffee and sat down. | | | | “Quite so,John,” he replied.“But tests |
| “Where have you been all this time, | | | | don’t care. They just turn up and |
| Gideon?” I asked. | | | | say,‘Look! I’m a test. You may do with |
| “Fulfilling my assignment, John,” was his | | | | me whatever you like. You may ignore me if you want |
| answer. | | | | to or deal with me as you see fit. I’m just |
| “Your assignment? What assignment? Selling | | | | another one of your tests.’That’s what |
| encyclopedias?” | | | | tests say. You yourself have designed them for your |
| “The sale of encyclopedias was the method I | | | | own private purposes,to measure your current |
| used to make contact with you again,” he said. | | | | progress against your potential. Actually,they are |
| “But it was more than that. We were also | | | | meant to bring out the very best in you, but of |
| checking to see how your understanding had grown. | | | | course,that doesn’t always happen. |