?No, no, John,? he replied quickly. ?I didn't mean for you to help him find a job. I meant to ask you if you would speak with him, help him find himself, give him a few pointers on how to keep going. From what our mutual friend said, you're very familiar with these situations. Please help him.?

I felt a great compassion for this man and his son. Memories came to mind of how my dad wanted to help me when I was losing everything I owned. I remembered how he had been unable to give me even a little money to keep me going. But what he gave me was far greater than material wealth. He gave me courage and belief in myself. He helped me to see a far greater vision. How often in the past I had longed for someone to speak to, someone possessed with wisdom and compassion who could utter the one word or the one phrase to keep my hopes burning. And then there came Gideon, who reminded me that we're all parts of the whole, all connected, and that we must always help one another, care for one another, love one another.

?James,? I said, ?I'll speak with your son. Ask him to call me as soon ??

?He's here with me,? James said. ?And if it's not too inconvenient, could you speak with him right now??

?OK. Put him on. I'll see what I can do. By the way, James, who is this mutual friend who told you about me??

?Well,? James hesitated, ?he really isn't a close friend.

In fact, we only met once. I was sitting at a bar feeling really dejected. I must have been the picture of misery when this man walked in. He looked around, saw me, came up to me and asked if he could join me. We talked for a while and then he suggested that I call you. He said to tell you that his name was Gideon and that you would understand.?

?Sure, sure,? I said. ?Gideon gets around. He's an old friend of mine.? I made a mental note to ask Gideon what he was doing distributing my phone number to every stranger he met. By this time, the voice on the other end of the phone had changed. I was now speaking with James Karman's son.

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