Smokey the Smart Black Bear

[snopes]

If you are planning a picnic in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, beware! There is a smart black bear on the loose, and here's what he's saying right now:

"He he he. I can't wait for some tourist to come along and eat their lunch. It's unbelievable how gullible they are! They innocently park their cars and amble over to these wonderful picnic tables. Meanwhile I am hiding behind these bushes where no one can see me, patiently biding my time . . .

"I do have to be patient. If I scare them too early, they rush away with all of their delicious food! No, it's far better to wait until they are all settled around the table and have started eating that food that they THINK they have prepared for themselves, but they have REALLY prepared for . . . For me! Then I spring my entrance. Grrrrr! I make sure to growl really loud, and I put on my most vicious face. I also have to move quickly-too quickly for them to grab their food back up!

"As these predicable tourists run for the safety of their cars, I take my time enjoying their delicious lunches. None of them ever dare to come back for their food. They'd better not, otherwise I will pretend to go after them! My goal isn't really to hurt them, only to scare them away, but they don't know that!

"You won't believe the thousands of delicious meals I have been able to steal. It sure beats raw fish and berries! Hey, why don't you come on over and see for yourselves? But be sure to bring your picnic along!"

Sounds a little bit like Yogi Bear, doesn't it? You know, Yogi bear who's smarter than the average bear, Yogi bear who's always in the rangers hair, have a picnic basket you will find him there, that's because he's smarter than the average bear . . .!

Okay, so it isn't really Yogi bear, but it is a true story. We didn't personally experience this smart bear because it was pouring rain the day we went through Kootenay National Park on our way to Radium Hot Springs, but we were warned about him by the tourist information centre in Field B.C. We figure he was waiting for us anyway, wondering why these weak humans were so afraid of a little bit of rain. My boys were disappointed. They actually WANTED him to steal their lunches. Personally, I was pretty glad it was raining!

So often we fall for these kinds of hidden dangers. In fact, the biggest threat of all is mostly ignored as non-existent, and billions of people have paid it with a life of addiction.

This is real, folks! God doesn't tell us to be prepared for nothing! ("Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph 6:11-13 NKJV) The world is in a spiritual war zone. The devil finds us easy prey for the addictions he hopes to lure us into. Unawaringly we unpack our "lunches", only to find ourselves attacked viciously by the intruder called sin, and once in its clutches, it is almost impossible to find freedom.

The good news is that freedom IS attainable, by believing in the One who paid the price for our freedom with His life. "He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed…" (Luke 4:18 NIV); and "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV)

Only with God's power can we resist the one who wants to take us as prisoners. Only with God's power can we be free indeed.

Do you have a picnic lunch with you by any chance?

[boogers]

That was confusing. Let's see...if I'm attacked by a bear called sin, Jesus wants me to lose my lunch?

[TrishDaDish]

Okay, so it isn't really Yogi bear, but it is a true story.

There's a talking black bear hanging around British Columbia?

[DawnStorm]

Originally Posted by TrishDaDish

There's a talking black bear hanging around British Columbia?

Maybe the glurger is confusing it with Bigfoot!

[greenfrog78]

If a bear comes at us while we are picnicing we are to kneel and pray to God that our spiritual armor will protect us from the bear.

Although it might end with the Bear will be thanking God for the tasty (warm and living) meal in addition to the regular picnic he usually scores.

[DawnStorm]

Just don't bear false witness.

[Halfmad]

What the fudge?! A lunch-stealing bear means we should be prepared to fight addiction? Wha? And if he's only trying to scare them, not hurt them, and the person in the car knew all about him ahead of time, why all the dire warnings about "hidden dangers"?

Very confused.

(Also, there really seems to be a GLURGE EXPLOSION in my inbox lately. Now that's a hiddden danger.)

[Canuckistan]

If you are planning a picnic in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, beware! There is a smart black bear on the loose, and here's what he's saying right now:

"He he he ...

Must be a gay bear, focused on men like that and all.

A God-fearing bear would say, "She she she ..."

[Marie19]

Have nothing to add except that your responses to this stupid glurge had me laughing like crazy.

[Esprise Me]

Originally Posted by boogers

That was confusing. Let's see...if I'm attacked by a bear called sin, Jesus wants me to lose my lunch?

You just made me snort cranberry juice up my nose. Thanks a lot.

[Kid Kilowatt]

So, wait, if Satan is just going to pretend to eat me so he can steal my pic-a-nic basket, I really have no reason to be afraid of him at all, right? Is my car Jesus? Or is Ranger Smith? And who is Boo-Boo in this scenario?
Glurge, you've done it again! I've got a splitting headache.

[MapleLeaf]

We figure he was waiting for us anyway, wondering why these weak humans were so afraid of a little bit of rain. My boys were disappointed. They actually WANTED him to steal their lunches. Personally, I was pretty glad it was raining!

and now, a rational segue...

So often we fall for these kinds of hidden dangers. In fact, the biggest threat of all is mostly ignored as non-existent, and billions of people have paid it with a life of addiction.

There it is!

[DawnStorm]

What about Cindy, Yogi's girlfriend?

[Bryan With a 'Y']

Originally Posted by snopes

Unawaringly

Now, THAT is why this glurger is going to hell.

Okay, maybe not the only reason.

But it would be enough.

[Radical Dory]

Based on the glurge, I think they should have named him Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear.