August Gold, an ordained Interfaith Minister and co-founder and senior minister of Sacred Center New York, and Joel Fotinos, a vice president of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. and publisher of the Tarcher imprint, are the authors of this spiritual adventure story about the power of prayer and the pluck it takes to surrender to God and welcome all that comes our way.

Joseph Hutchinson is a farmer who carries a heavy load of sorrows. He has found a place in the attic of his home that is a sacred center for him and a potent place of prayer. But when tragedy strikes, he plunges into darkness as he tries to provide for his two young children through work that no longer speaks to his soul. Then Joseph finds an old Prayer Chest that has been hidden away for more than 100 years. It contains messages from a relative who died in 1780 about the Three Secrets of Prayer.

This simple but elegant novel shows how fear and suffering can close us off from the bountiful grace of God. We see in the story of Joseph and his crises that we can deepen and enrich our lives through love and generosity. Best of all, we discover that prayer is answered when we welcome everything. Joseph's destiny is changed by a person he thought was going to destroy his life; instead he becomes an ally and a soul companion. Another positive message in the story is that our ancestors have wisdom to share with us if we only take the time to listen.