"Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." This is an extremely powerful quote that is proven in the opening scene of the book. This scene includes the main character of the novel, Richard, who is searching for the "meaning of life". While flying his 1928 Fleet over Ferris, Illinois, Richard spots another biplane parked in a field Knowing how lonely flying can be, Richard decides to land and make some conversation. Little did he know that the pilot of the 1928 Travel Air 4000 was the "Mechanical Messiah." Here, Richard begins his journey, the journey that he has drawn to himself.
             After landing, Richard meets his guide on the journey, Dan Shimoda. This guide was no ordinary man, for he was the "Messiah." The first day the two met they hit it off right away. It was like as if they were destined to fly together, but really they weren't because nobody forced Richard to land that day. When Dan asked Richard if he thought he would be "led to a teacher who can help him", Richard replied, "if the teacher doesn't happen to be me, then yes." In all actuality though, Richard led himself to this great teacher, and ironically the teacher happened to be Dan Shimoda. This was so because "Teaching is reminding others they know just as well as you". Which was just what Dan was doing, informing Richard of the everyday "llusions".
             A few minutes into their first conversation, a customer arrives with his granddaughter. Since Dan was on lunch, Richard took the old man for a ten minute flight for three dollars. When Richard landed though, Dan and the little girl who was afraid of heights were airborne. Upon landing, the little girl jumped out of the plane yelling ecstatically about her enjoyment of the flight. Here is where Richard witnessed his first miracle, or illusion should I say. This was only the beginning of a very rough day though,...