It was a beautiful day. The blue sky was bright with sunshine and decorated with gentle white clouds. The scenic mountains of Missouri were enchanting, with their colorful fall leaves in full display. Enjoying the autumn beauty of North America, I drove along the Interstate on a journey back to my home in Ohio.

I thank Master for providing me with many relaxing hours with which to drive on the highway and appreciate the Midwestern United States. I like the area very much. The people in the Midwest are simple, yet warmhearted. They always wave their hands to you from their vehicles or kindly assist you with what you need at moments when you meet them while driving on country roads.

As I was approaching the entrance to I-70, on the side of the road I saw an old man wearing a blue jacket and red baseball cap. He put his thumb up, which meant that he needed a ride, and I stopped to let him get into my car. "God bless you," were his first words as he sat down on my front seat, with Bible in hand. "Where are you going?" and "What's your name?" I asked. "Fred. I am going to New Jersey to see my sisters and brother," he replied, adding, "I'm from Kansas, and I came out a couple days ago." He continued, "I've gotten my rides from truck drivers. People in my hometown doubted that I could make a trip to New Jersey this way. But, I said that it's up to God. If God wants me to make this trip, I will definitely make it." He added, "You see, God just sent you here at the right time because I was taking a nap at that truck stop for two hours, and then I walked here for my ride, and in just about ten minutes you came and picked me up. So, you see, that is a perfect arrangement by God."

Oh, thanks to Master for giving me such pure hearted company. We talked about God and the Bible. "There is only one God, no matter how many religions there are in the world," said the old man. "You believe in your religion and I believe in mine, but we have the same God." I was happy to hear that and for his open mind. "What do you think about the year 2000?" I suddenly asked, although I never worry about the Y2K (year 2000) problem. "It is, for me, just another year, and another date." "Oh, excellent!" I replied. His answer was so simple. I was surprised. He kept saying, "Yes, there are many people who worry about this problem and feel that they should do something about it. God did not say that. It is just a seven day relationship, and every day is a beautiful day that God gives us. Why do we have to worry about tomorrow? Let God change the world around. We should just take care of our brothers and sisters." "Thank God for giving me this opportunity to give you a ride," I said to him, "Your heart is so simple and pure." "Yep, God is simple, but humans are hard," he replied, adding, "When I was a teenager, I realized that if you do things in God's way, then it will be easier for you." "Yes, Y2K is just a number of human beings' creation." I suddenly realized that there are never any numbers in God consciousness. "That feeling cannot be described," the man said. He then went on to tell me of his experience: "That was many years ago, but when you experience it, you never forget about it because it's so peaceful. I was waiting for a ride. It was raining. And I prayed, then I did not feel the rain. A truck stopped. The truck driver said that he had seen a light around me and that was why he had stopped his truck to give me a ride. He had never done that before. But I did not know there was a light around me." He also told me that his wife had passed away the previous month (September). However, she had seen a sphere of light two weeks before her last day.

We kept talking on the way. Then I found a restaurant that served buffet-style meals so that we could have our lunch. I told him that I was vegetarian, so I could only take some bread and salad. "You go ahead and eat whatever you like," I said to him. However, during our lunch, he said that God does everything for a reason, "There must be a reason why God sent you to me and you are vegetarian." "May I ask why you don't eat meat?" was his question. "It is just mercy for the animals because we don't have to kill animals as our food," was my answer, and I continued, "God gives us many fruits and vegetables to eat that are delicious." "Yes, I should consider becoming a vegetarian," he said, "because every time I see pigs and other animals being carried in big trucks suffering so much, I ask myself why we have to kill them for our food." After lunch, the old man was very happy and gave me a silver ring, which I happily accepted. And in return, I gave him a gold picture of Master that was hanging in my car. He was very happy to accept it, saying, "This lady is so beautiful!" He was surprised. And, I said to him, "It is this lady who made me believe in God, realize God, and start to learn about doing good things such as helping our brothers and sisters." "Thanks to Her for making you become a good person," he replied.

I regretted that I did not have a sample booklet to give him at that time, and even forgot that I had a News magazine that I could have given him when I dropped him off in Indiana, as he requested. However, I know he is in Master's hands. I left him some money for food and a meditation cloak that I had bought at the international retreat in Norwich, England this year. I then drove happily the rest of the way home, appreciative that Master had given me this opportunity to learn how to love our brothers and sisters because I had prayed to Her for this lesson.