An atheist decided to spend Christmas in Kalimantan, Indonesia, so as to see the Orangutans, the last great apes in the world. And so on Christmas Day, he walked through the woods and saw the majestic virgin forest, the great apes and the other wildlife.

But somehow, he got separated from the tour guide and his fellow tourists and was lost in the forest. Then he was captured by cannibals.

As the cannibals were preparing to butcher him, the atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Suddenly, time stopped. The cannibals froze.

A bright light shone upon the atheist. A magnificent voice came out of the sky and said: "You denied my existence all these years. You taught others I don't exist and even credited creation to a cosmic accident. Now, you cry out to me to help you out of this predicament. But I am merciful. Am I to count you now as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light and said: "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make these cannibals Christian, since it is Christmas Day after all?"

"Very well," said the voice, “Thy will be done.”

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the head cannibal kneeled, bowed his head, made the sign of the Cross and prayed: "Lord, bless this food, which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ your Son, Amen." # # #

Editor’s Note: This parable was inspired by an online joke sent to the editor by Bing de la Vega, former president of the Pangasinan Brotherhood, Los Angeles, CA.