His dear friend of many years—Aaron Abrahams—had been on his mind ever since he had last seen him in Niedersdorf. Indeed, Aaron was far more than a mere friend to himself and Marion, though they had both, against their own wishes, consented to Aaron’s demand that they promise never to reveal his secret to another human soul—even to their own daughter. And so, all these years, no one ever knew. And now that the doctor had troubles with the authorities, being powerless to help nearly killed Heinrich.

He was not the first, and he would surely not be the last. The persecution had been mounting for years.

Hitler’s diatribe Mein Kampf had outlined his demented race-superiority theory, and now his powerful secret network of army and police and spies were carrying out his evil schemes against the Jews with greater and greater abandon. That evil night of rioting, looting, destruction, and killing, known as Krystallnacht, was already a year in the past. It could only grow worse. And now it had spread from Berlin to a small village like Niedersdorf!

Both his own daughter and his friend Bonhoeffer had challenged him to consider what he would do, what he should do, as the policies of the Nazis came ever closer. What was right? What was the call upon the people of God?

“God… oh, God,” he cried out in an agony of frustrated confusion, “what would you have me do? How can I help your people?”

He walked on another few steps, then stopped and fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands.

“Oh, Father, I fear for such grief and pain and suffering coming for your people, for Jews and Christians alike. I cannot stand idly by, Lord… that cannot be what you desire of me. There is such evil and wickedness spreading over our land. What is your purpose for me? My heart aches for Aaron, Father… what can I do… and Marion… oh, God….”

The words of prayer turned to inarticulate groanings, as unconsciously he rocked slowly back and forth on his knees.