AN ATHEIST IN THE WOODS
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An atheist was walking through the woods.
'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 bear
charge toward him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked
over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing
in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was
even closer.

He tripped & fell on the ground.

He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the
bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with
his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.


At that instant moment, the Atheist cried out:
'Oh my God!'

Time stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came
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 said:
'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 sounds of the forest resumed.
The bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws
together, bowed his head & spoke:

'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from
Thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.'