|
The Atheist and the Bear
An atheist was taking a walk through the woods,
admiring all that the 'accident of evolution' had
created. "What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.
As he walked alongside the river, he heard a rustling
in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a
7-foot grizzly bear barging toward him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked
over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing
in. 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 without thinking, "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 and
answered, "It would be hypocritical for me to be a
Christian after all these years, but perhaps you could
make the bear a Christian?"
"Very well," said the voice.
The light went out.
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, for this food which I am about to
receive,
I am truly thankful."
|
