Chapter 1 - Page 1 - Bright Light

   The morning air was cool. Birds flying in the sky announced their arrival as they landed on the branches of one tree, then announced their departure as they took off to land in another tree. Each made its own music, but all the birdsong together couldn’t compare to the music that softly rolled out of the cracks and windows of the small town Baptist church-the same church that claimed ownership of the trees the birds played in.

   Inside, the children sang. Their innocent singing pleased their family and friends. A smile was on every face.

   “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Jesus gave me light, now I’m gonna let it shine. Jesus gave me light, now I’m gonna let it shine . . . ”

   It would be hard to figure out who were trying to please God the most, the children or the birds.

   In a pew at the back of the church sat a middle-aged man, sobbing softly to himself. Jim had been to church several times in the past, but never by himself, and certainly not in tears. Nobody noticed as Jim held his head in his hands; they didn’t see the tears running through his fingers. At that moment, nobody else in the church could have felt the loneliness that Jim felt. Never before had Jim sat in self pity, and never before had he felt so helpless.

   Unaware that the children were close to finishing their song, he looked up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes. “Lord, help me,” Jim whispered.