The Atheist

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods,
admiring all that the "accident of evolution" had
created. What majestic trees! What powerful rivers!
What beautiful animals, he said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a
rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look.
He saw a 7-foot grizzly charge toward him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked
over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closer. He
ran even faster, so scared that tears were coming to
his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the
bear was even closer. His heart was pumping
frantically and he tried to run even faster.

He tripped and fell to the ground. He rolled over to
pick himself up but saw the bear, right on top of him,
reaching for him with his left paw and raising his
right paw to strike him.

At that instant the atheist cried out "Oh my God!"

Time stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

Even the river stopped moving.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out
of the sky, "You deny my existence for all of these
years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit
creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to
help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light. "It would
be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me
as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the
bear a Christian?"

"Very well," said the voice.

The light went out.

The river ran again.

And the sounds of the forest returned.

And then the bear dropped his right paw...brought both
paws together...bowed his head and spoke:

"Lord, for this food, which I am about to receive, I
am truly thankful, Amen"