My relative Benjamin Varsavsky (or Warshavsky because he changed our last name to what he insists is the original form) lives in the Netherlands. He is an MD, an avid computer, a young 85 and, I thought, a convinced Atheist. I say I thought so because he just sent me this story that confused me.<\/p>\n
AN ATHEIST IN THE WOODS.<\/p>\n
An atheist was walking through the woods.\u2028\u2028’What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!’ he said to himself.\u2028\u2028 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 bear charging towards him.\u00a0He ran as fast as he could up the path, looked over his shoulder\u00a0and saw\u00a0the bear was closing in on him, looked again,\u00a0and the bear was even closer. \u2028\u2028He tripped\u00a0and fell on the ground.\u2028\u2028 He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw\u00a0and raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the atheist cried out,\u00a0 \u2028’Oh my God!’<\/p>\n
Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.\u2028\u2028’You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don’t exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident.\u2028Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?’ \u2028\u2028The atheist looked directly into the light.<\/p>\n
“‘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?”\u2028\u2028’Very well,’ said the voice.\u2028\u2028 The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head\u00a0and spoke:<\/p>\n
“Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.”<\/p>\n