Chapter 20 - Page 289 - Shanha's Faith

   Jim made a turn, heading toward the beam. The beam of light again began to expand. "Yes Shanha," he replied, "and they found the baby Jesus."

   "Yes," Shanha said. She hugged her teddy bear. "But how did they know they found the right baby?"

   Jim smiled, pleased that she remembered the stories he read to her. "God told the three wise men they would find the baby Jesus lying in a manger," he said, "so that was what they were looking for." Realizing Shanha was still confused, he added, "I'm sure God helped to guide their footsteps."

   Jim stopped the car at a red light. He glanced at Rhasha and could tell she was thinking about Jim and Shanha's conversation.

   Finally she said, "I think it would be impossible to find someone in a city by following a star. Why didn't God point to the baby Jesus with a beam of light?"

   The traffic light changed to green and Jim continued driving toward the expanding beam of light. The closer they got, the wider it grew. "In those times," he told her, "if people saw a beam of light coming from heaven, they would think the world was cracking. People would have panicked."

   He looked at both his girls and knew they still weren't convinced. "Girls," he added, "Christianity is based on faith, as are all beliefs. I know someday Jesus will reveal himself to you-he did to me." Jim noticed the beam of light was directly in front of him, now about five feet wide. He knew they didn't have much farther to go.

   Rhasha was still thinking about what Jim said, but something else caught her attention. "Jim! There's Jackie, standing beneath the beam of light."

   The beam of light disappeared as Jim pulled up to the curb. Everyone babbled excitedly as Jackie climbed into the car. Jim looked at his surroundings as Jackie hugged Rhasha and Shanha. They were parked in front of the bus station.

   "Jackie," Jim asked, "where is Simbatu?"