An atheist was taking a walk 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

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 in on him. He looked over his

shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. 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.

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 a Christian now, but perhaps

could you make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very well," said the voice.

The light went out.

The sounds of the forest resumed.

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

and bowed his head and spoke:  "Lord, bless this food, which I am

about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."