[Editor’s note: Different versions of this story appears in numerous places on the Internet without attribution.]
An atheist was walking through the woods. “What majestic trees!” “What powerful rivers” “What beautiful animals!” He said to himself. Suddenly, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look . . . and saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could along the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing on him . . . He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer . . . and then . . . He tripped and fell. Rolling over to pick himself up, he found the bear was right on top of him . . . reaching towards him with its left paw . . . and raising the right paw to strike . . . At that instant the Atheist cried out, “Oh my God!” Time Stopped . . . The bear froze . . . The forest was silent . . . A bright light shone upon the man, and a voice came out of the sky . . . “You deny my existence for all these years, you 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 . . . “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?” .. a pause ... “Very well,” said the voice ... The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed . . . And the bear dropped his right arm . . . brought both paws together . . . bowed his head & spoke . . . “Lord, bless this food, which I am about to receive.” Submitted by Janet Spain