The Bear.

Dunfermline Glen 

The above painting was inspired by a picture taken by in Dunfermline Glen and shared on a FB page. I have spent many a happy moment at this part of the glen walking and as a youngster just exploring.

While sitting working on this I was thinking back to the 1st of April morning. I was in Coniston in the Lake District. I was out for an early morning walk with my son and daughter in law who probably did not realise what date it was. As we were walking through the woods I very excitedly pointed and said, " Wow do you see that? A bear, just over there."  They of course got caught with the excitement and began looking and asking where. I laughed and said, "April fool." They took it in great fun and realised they had been caught napping. 

I was reminded of the story of the man and the bear in the forest out in the wilds. 

An atheist was walking through the woods. As he walked he was having wonderful thoughts.

"What majestic trees!"

"What powerful rivers!"

"What beautiful animals!"

 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 bear charging 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 that the bear was 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.

A bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. 

"You deny my existence for all these years, 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?"

"Very Well," said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke: 

"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from your bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Beware what you ask for in life because you just might get it but not how you expect to get it. Have a wonderful day. The sun is shining here so I am going to have an afternoon out on the golf course. The way I play golf it will be good walk wasted, but i am not going to ask for it to be different I will just play the best I can and enjoy.