Jesus Sightings 2010: Year Ends in Piece of Candy in Toledo

As the Christmas season fades and the new year approaches, a Toledo, Ohio, man believes he found the real spirit of the holiday in a piece of hard candy.

James Burrows, 63, claims to have found an image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus in a piece of hard tack while shopping for candy at a grocery store where he works part time.

"I just looked at it, and it just struck me," he told Fox News in Toledo. "This time of year, for this to come up, it was kind of unusual. Really, it was a great experience."

Toledo man sees Christ, Virgin Mary in Christmas candy: foxtoledo.com

The Vietnam veteran says he's not alone in recognizing the image.

"I've shown it to several people, and even without the postage stamp to compare it to, they couldn't believe the similarity," Burrows said. "It's uncanny."

And for those who don't see the holy scene, he's not worried. "It's a piece of candy. If you can see beauty in something, then you should enjoy it. And if you can't, you should move on."

Burrows has not decided what to do with the divine candy, but he's keeping his options open. If someone makes an offer he can't resist, he plans to donate the proceeds to veterans' charities and his church.

Sightings of Jesus in unusual places have become common. As 2010 winds down, let's look back at some of the Lord's strangest appearances over the year.

Jesus Outside a Pub: Earlier this month, Jesus made headlines for allegedly appearing on the facade of an Australian pub. A local was first to point out that paint chipped away near the front door seemed to form an image of Jesus with outstretched arms.

John Keohane, Manager of the Seanchai Irish pub with an image of Jesus Christ

Robin Sharrock, Newspix / Rex USA

Australian Pub owner John Keohane stands next to an image of Jesus Christ that appeared on the facade of his establishment.

"I would like to think it was because we are an Irish pub and maybe, just maybe, he heard about the divine pints of Guinness," Pub owner John Keohane told AOL News.

Google God: Google proved that it truly can find anything -- even God. Gawker posted an image captured by Google Street View cameras in Switzerland that seemed to show the Lord hovering over a lake.

Google Maps

A curious image found on Google Street View.

Gawker blogger Max Read suggested the "blurry, possibly robed figures" could be "God and His only begotten Son," or perhaps just "something on the camera lens."

Comments on Gawker showed not everyone agreed. Several readers had a simpler explanation: "bird poop."

Telephone Pole Jesus: This past September, in rural Hathaway, La., drivers felt they were being watched over from above as they sped down the highway, thanks to a growth of vines around a utility pole resembling Jesus on the cross.

KPLC

Rickey Navarre did a double take looking at this utility pole while driving along Louisiana Highway 26 and saw what appears to be Jesus Christ hanging on the cross.

"That was brought there by him," Rickey Navarre told local station KPLC. "He might just be telling us something, you know: 'I'm looking over you, I'm going to answer your prayers.'"

But electric officials received a different message: danger. The vines were growing near high-voltage lines, and to prevent believers from trying to climb the pole and touch Jesus, the foliage was removed.

Holy Sock Jesus: September also found Jesus across the pond in an old sock. James Henderson of the U.K. noticed the Lord peering up from a bleached spot on the garment. The face of Jesus was formed by patches of worn-out threads.

"I am not especially religious, but it was a shock," he told his local paper, the Shropshire Star.

Chewing Gum Jesus: A Devon, England, mother of two discovered an unexpected surprise on Good Friday. Nelly Noden had been enjoying a piece of chewing gum but decided to take a break and eat some chips.

She stored the gum on the mantelpiece while she snacked, and when she returned for it, she claimed it looked like the Lord. Noden preserved the confectionery Christ.

Frying Pan Jesus: In March, 22-year-old Toby Elles of Lancashire, England, claimed he was frying bacon after having a few beers with housemates, but fell asleep before his treat was ready. Smoke filled the room when he awoke an hour later, and instead of a crispy piece of goodness waiting in the pan, he found pig grease forming the face of Jesus.

The remarkable detail led many to believe the story wasn't kosher.

Naan Jesus: 34-year-old British plumber David Howlett nearly ate Jesus while dining at an Indian restaurant in January. He claimed he detected the Lord's facial features, hair and beard in the blackened spots of naan bread.

According to the restaurant owner, the naan was baked in a standard clay oven like all its other breads.

Diners at an Indian restaurant had a religious experience after spotting what appears to be the face of Jesus on naan bread.

SWNS

Diners at the India Dining restaurant in Esher, Surrey, England, had a religious experience after spotting what appears to be the face of Jesus -- on naan bread.

Those who say they see Jesus, point to the facial features, complete with beard and flowing hair, which are said to be visible in the blackened patches. Others say the starchy food actually resembles comedian Billy Connolly.

Jesus Bruise: Jesus kicked off his year of bizarre appearances with his visage in a woman's arm. Mary Massa of Florida, a diabetic who once shook hands with the pope, saw Jesus near her elbow after two routine blood tests left her with a bruise.

Doctors apparently agreed that the bruise resembled Jesus and posted photos of it around the office. Massa's family dubbed her "Our Lady of the Hematoma."

And for those who can't wait for a miracle of their own, 2010 saw the launch of the Jesus Toaster. For $39.99, anyone can toast Jesus into the slice of bread of your choice.

Marc Hartzman is an AOL News contributor and the author of "God Made Me Do It."

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