There is a transcendent force at work in the world, and its design for learning and life is far too complex to be executed through lesson plans and textbooks. In this article, the author describes a phone call from a student he taught in a high school English class 16 years earlier and has not seen since. After the student reveals how his life was altered by a particular lesson the author taught on "The Merchant of Venice", the author reflects on the nature of teaching and learning. The author concludes that despite the current focus on scientifically validated curricula and measurable learning outcomes, educators should remain open to mystery in classroom instruction and be aware that a teacher's impact on students can take highly unanticipated turns.