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 and saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charging towards him.  He ran as fast as he could up the path.  He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him.  He ran even faster, so scared was he that tears were coming to his eyes.  He looked behind, his heart pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster.  He tripped and fell on the ground.  He rolled over to pick himself up but he saw the bear 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 the bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.  “  You denied my existence for all these years, taught others I don’t exist and even gave credit to a cosmic accident.  Do you expect me to help you in your predicament?  Am I to count you as a believer?”

            The Atheist looked directly into the light.  “  It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these yeas but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?”

            The light went.  The river ran again.  The sounds of the forest resumed.  And then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke, “Lord, I thank you for this food which I am about to receive.”