As an atheist walked through the forest, he smiled at the beauty that was

all

around him and said, "What natural wonders the powers of evolution have

created."

 

Just then he heard a rustling near the river.  He went to investigate and

a

7-foot-tall grizzly bear was tearing down the path towards him him. The

man

took off like a shot, and when he got up the courage to look back, he saw

the

bear was catching up fast.

 

He tried with all his strength to pick up the pace, but he tripped and

crashed

to the ground.  As he tried to get up, the bear jumped on his chest and

picked

up one paw to whack him.

 

The atheist screamed, "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 boomed from the heavens,

"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 could you

make the

bear a Christian?"

 

"Very well," the voice said.

 

The light went out, the river ran again, and the sounds of the forest

resumed.

And then the bear dropped its right paw, brought both paws together, bowed

its

head and spoke:

 

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