A story inspired by the life of Thomas E. Kirkman

Will God keep His end of the deal?

Soon, Tom thought as he hurried to the hospital, I'll know if there is a God. And if He cares.

When they graduated in 1952, Thomas Kirkman and his high school classmates made daring predictions about their future, including a trip to the moon. Though Tom never made it to the moon, his journey through life took him to places just as unique.

But not even the prestige of working in the White House and the CIA could take away Tom's disillusionment and despair when he lost the most important person in his life. Convinced that God does not care, and may not even exist, Tom buried himself in his work and turned his back on God.

Then, through an unexpected voice and an unpretentious Amish man, Tom Kirkman's life was forever changed.

This work of biographical fiction echoes the true story of Thomas E. Kirkman—White House artist, CIA spy, inventor, and Amish man.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Prologue

Part One

• 1. The Chicken House
• 2. The Perfect Life
• 3. Prayers and More Prayers
• 4. The Sickness with No Cure
• 5. Bob, Bill, and Opal
• 6. Interrupted Broadcasts
• 7. Deaths and Victories
• 8. The Test
• 9. The Graduate with a Car

Part Two

• 10. Making a Mark on the World
• 11. The White House
• 12. The Calligraphy Office
• 13. A Visit Home
• 14. The Boss Returns
• 15. On Call
• 16. Dinner with the Boss
• 17. An Announcement
• 18. An Exciting Summer
• 19. Rest and Relaxation
• 20. Showing Off a New Son

Part Three

• 21. The Phone Call
• 22. The Drive
• 23. The Hospital
• 24. Edges of Grief
• 25. Modern Times
• 26. A Certificate from the Past
• 27. A Phone Call from Washington
• 28. The CIA
• 29. Moscow at Night
• 30. The Darkest Place in the World
• 31. The End
• 32. Faces from the Past
• 33. The Voice in the Car

Part Four

• 34. The Paoli Jail
• 35. Simon D. Gingerich
• 36. New Worlds
• 37. Joining the Amish Church
• 38. The Amish Man Designs an Engine
• 39. Ed Cole
• 40. Loss and Gain
• 41. Conversations with Brad
• 42. Reading, Writing, and Hallucinating
• 43. Last Days

• Epilogue: The Last Word
• Author's Notes
• Endnotes
• Bibliography
• About the Author