Chapter 21 - Page 291 - Lost In The Woods

   The following morning, Jim and his guest climbed aboard the company jet and took off for Africa. Everyone was comfortable, but anxious to get home. Shanha was bouncing the teddy bear she'd named Honeycup back and forth on her knees. She often pretended Honeycup was her little brother.

   Rhasha was listening to music through a set of headphones. Jackie and Simbatu were talking about their adventure of the previous day. Everyone had their minds on different things as the jet flew 33,000 feet above the ground.

   The sun was shining, but white, puffy clouds filled the sky below the plane. The sound of the engines was nothing more than a constant hum as the jet slipped though the sky. Jim looked out his window and saw an angel riding on a white horse as it galloped alongside the company jet. At times, the white-robed rider was lost from view as he passed through clouds, then burst through on the other side. Jim saw the white horse spread its wings, gliding along with the plane as gracefully as a bird. Sometimes the horse flapped its wings and flew faster than the jet.

   Jim looked across the sky and saw other angels sitting on the clouds, strumming on harps and singing. In the distance he could see two angels tossing a ball back and forth. The angels playing with the ball drew closer and closer to the plane. As they got closer, the ball got bigger and bigger. Finally Jim saw that it wasn't a ball they were throwing to each other, but a planet, with oceans and mountains, swirled green and blue. It was earth.

   In the far distance, a bright light shone across space. Jim heard hearty laughter. It was the first time Jim had ever heard God laugh. Tears ran down his cheeks as he listened to the heavenly sound. Jim knew God was amused as he watched his children play. He thought about how wonderful heaven would be. Life would go on forever and ever.