The Ugly Duckling is a poignant childhood story. What awkward pre-adolescent with doesn't identify with the poor, lost swan, ridiculed and laughed at by the other ducks? When the ugly duckling actually turns out to be the graceful swan, and the envy of all the others...what bruised ego doesn't hope for that? It made the swan a mythical creature for me. 
 
Swans are regal, graceful. I live outside of Brussels and we see them a lot, usually off in the distance on a local lake or pond. They float with ease, their necks curved in elegance. Demanding attention, they leave a lasting impression. If I saw a swan on a particular lake, I would find myself looking for it the next time I passed.   
 
Lately, I have been taking a lot of early afternoon walks with my daughter. We walk around the lake at a local park, and we bring our stale bread to feed the ducks at the end of our walk.  

There are mallards, and also these little black and white ducks that are cute, but rather mean. My daughter prefers the mallards because she can tell which ones are the mommies and which are the daddies. I like them because they are Minnesota ducks and remind me of home. The black and white ones peck at the mallards and steal the bread right out of their beaks.

One day, there were two swans, right in the middle of all of the ducks. I was excited for the chance to see a swan up close. I was happy that we remembered to bring bread on our walk that day. However, the excitement passed quickly when one swan tried to eat my three-year old. It hissed and made noises that I've never heard a bird make before. It stomped on all of the other ducks  in its path to try to get closer to us. I feared for my daughter's life because she happened to be holding a chunk of crusty stale baguette. We threw the breadand ran. 
 
I know that "hate" is a really strong word, so I choose it very carefully and use it sparingly. But I really think that now I hate swans. I hate that something so beautiful and graceful from afar could be so nasty up close. 
 
It also made me think. How many times in our lives does something look so beautiful, so desirable and covetable from afar, but up close it turns out to be ugly and nasty? Sometimes Grace is not always what it appears to be. Watch out for the swan, I say.
 
Natalie Fowler, Brussels, Belgium

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Here's a recent submission of a Real Life Moment of Grace!  Thanks Chris for sharing!  Please submit your Real Life Moment of Grace.  These moments are truly inspiring!

Ten years ago, I was sitting in a classroom with a group of strangers when we were asked to split into pairs. Our task was to exchange one personal item we had in our possession with our partner. It could be a pen, a shoe, eyeglasses – anything we were comfortable sharing, as long as it was a personal item.

My partner, a slightly graying, soft-spoken gentleman in his late 40's handed me his watch. It was nothing extravagant, just a nice gold watch. I handed him my car keys. Once the exchange was made we were instructed to share with our partner a time in our life when we encountered a deeply painful or difficult experience. 

My partner went first and proceeded to tell me about the birth of his daughter. As he described the excitement he and his wife shared during the weeks and days leading up to her birth and arrival, I looked down at his watch. Being a father myself, I knew how slow time moves while anticipating the birth of a child. He spoke of their patience, waiting for the date of her delivery. And then the day arrived. 

As soon as his daughter was born, the doctors told he and his wife that the baby had fatal condition. After months of waiting for this moment, this father – this stranger sitting before me - described the precious five minutes he had to hold his baby daughter as she passed away in his 
arms.

I sat there stunned as I held his watch in my hands, the minutes ticking by. He would never have those few minutes back, those minutes that must have slipped like sand through his fingers. What must he have felt? Did he get to say the things he wanted? I wondered how a person copes with a loss like that. 

Until I heard his story, I never realized how much compassion I could feel for another human being, especially a stranger. Tears welled in my eyes as his pain seared into my heart and there was nothing I could do but express my sorrow. And then Irealized that I had received the gift of Grace from this man’s story.

It caused me to realize just how much we all need each other, yet how we overlook the individuality in each other, how we shamelessly and selfishly live our lives. I also learned that my life is better served when I can be aware of and appreciate the value others hold - and to better understand the love others offer - in all its forms. Ten years later, I can still feel that learning in my heart. Now that’s Grace!

Christopher Gindorff
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First Post! 02/13/2012
 
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World Grace Project