A priest, a Pentecostal minister and a rabbi all served as chaplains to the
students of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
They would get together
two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.
One day, someone made
the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard.
A real
challenge would be to preach to a bear.
One thing led to another and they decided
to do an experiment.
They would all go up to the Smokies, find a bear, preach
to it, and attempt to convert it.
A week later, they're all together to discuss the experience.
Father Flannery, who has his arm in a sling, is on crutches, and has various
bandages on his body and limbs, speaks first.
"Well," he says, "I went into the woods to find me a bear.
And when I found
him I began to read to him from the Catechism.
Well, that bear wanted nothing
to do with me and began to slap me around.
So, I quickly grabbed my holy
water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary Mother of God, he became as gentle as a lamb.
The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and
confirmation.
"
Reverend Billy Bob speaks next.
He's in a wheelchair, with an arm and both
legs in casts, and an IV drip.
In his best fire and brimstone oratory, he
claims, "Well, brothers, you KNOW that WE don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND
me a bear.
And then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that
bear wanted nothing to do with me.
So I took HOLD of him and we began to
wrassle. We came to a creek.
So right quick-like, I DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his
hairy soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb.
We spent
the rest of the day praising to Jesus.
"
They both look down at the rabbi, who's lying in a hospital bed.
He's in a
body cast and traction with IV's and monitors running in and out of him.
He's
in bad shape.
The rabbi looks up and says, "Looking back on it, circumcision
may not have been the best way to start..."
__________________
"Speak softly but carry a big stick"
-Teddy Roosevelt
