Saving Grace

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 and saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him so he ran as fast as he could up the path.

Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked 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.

As he rolled over to pick himself up he saw that the bear was right on top of him and had his right paw raised and ready to strike any moment.

At that instant the atheist cried out: "Oh my God!"

Time stopped. Rivers silenced. The forest became dead silent and the bear froze.

 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 you could make the bear a Christian?"

"Very well," said the voice.

The light went out and the sounds of the forest resumed.

Just 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, and for which I am truly thankful. Amen."