Chapter 13 - Page 178 - Tunnel Vision

A large portion of the sky opened up like a large window. It was held open by angels at its four corners, and heaven became visible to all the villagers. They dropped to their knees and began to pray. They prayed the way Reverend Morris prayed.

   Jim, in his glass form, continued to pray. “Father, I love you with all my heart and I want to be in heaven. Please take my life instead of the young boy’s.”

   Rhasha heard. “Noooo!” she screamed. Her voice echoed across the pool. Tears coursed down her cheeks. “If you take Jim’s life, Father,” she sobbed, “then I pray you take my life.”

   The humming sound rose to a high pitch, then ceased. It sounded like it was gearing up again. A beam of blindingly bright light, twenty feet wide, shot from the throne room in heaven and descended at an angle toward the rock where the young boy lay. The village people had to turn their backs to the brilliance and cover their eyes.

   “Father,” Jim said, “your power is awesome and I have no more strength in me.” He slowly sank to his knees. He continued to hold his face toward heaven, but opened his eyes. Inside the bright beam of light was a tunnel, ten feet wide, that reached all the way to heaven. Inside the tunnel was bright, but pleasant to Jim’s eyes. It sparkled like diamonds.

   Rhasha was also inside the tunnel. She thought the bright beam of light had come for her and Jim.

   “Jim,” she whispered, “are we going to heaven now, through the tunnel?”

Jim heard what she said, but before he could answer, a blue glow flowed from heaven. As the glow descended quickly toward the rock, Jim could see that it encompassed two angels.