An atheist walking through the forest thinks he hears something
coming up behind him.
He turns to see a 7-foot grizzly bear charging towards him.
The atheist runs as fast as he can up the path.
Looking over his shoulder he sees the bear closing in on him.
He continues to run and again looking over his shoulder
sees the bear is gaining on him.
He suddenly trips and falls to the ground.
He rolls over and tries to pick himself up but he is too late,
the bear is over him, reaching for him with his left paw and
raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the atheist cries out, "Oh my God!"
Suddenly time stops.
The bear freezes.
The forest goes silent.
A bright light shines upon the man and a voice comes out of the sky:
"You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist,
and even credit creation to 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 and stated, '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."
The bright light went out.
The sounds of the forest resumed.
The bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together,
bowed his head and spoke.
"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty
through Christ our Lord. Amen."