A very religious man lived right next door to an atheist. While the religious
one prayed day in, day out, and was constantly on his knees in communion with
his Lord, the atheist never even looked twice at a church.
However, the atheist's life was good, he had a well-paying job and a
beautiful wife, and his children were healthy and good- natured, whereas the
pious man's job was strenuous and his wages were low, his wife was getting
fatter every day and his kids wouldn't give him the time of the day.
So one day, deep in prayer as usual, he raised his eyes towards heaven and
asked:
"Oh God, I honor you every day, I ask your advice for every problem and
confess to you my every sin. Yet my neighbor, who doesn't even believe in you
and certainly never prays, seems blessed with every happiness, while I go poor
and suffer many an indignity. Why is this?"
And a great voice was heard from above:
"BECAUSE HE DOESN'T BOTHER ME ALL THE TIME!"