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 towards
him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over
his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing, 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 on 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
Christian now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Christian?"
"Very well," said the voice.
The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds
of the forest resumed.
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."
