Once upon a time in a faraway barnyard, a mother duck sat dutifully on her eggs. As she awaited their hatching, she noticed that one of the eggs was much different from the others. It was indeed larger and of a much different color. But she loved the egg nonetheless. Other barnyard animals called the large egg a turkey egg. They said, “That’s a turkey egg. I’d know one anywhere.” When the appointed time for the hatching came, the old duck watched as each egg cracked and eventually produced an offspring. All seemed well. That was until the last, larger egg opened wide.
What a surprise was in store. That offspring was indeed larger and, frankly, not nearly as cute and loveable as the smaller ducklings. The larger “ugly” duckling was awkward and slower. It did not swim like the others and it did not quack like the others. The mother duck loved the ugly duckling as if it were just like the others. But all was not well.
Soon the other barnyard animals began to tease the ugly duckling and called it awful names. Eventually, the mother duck found that the larger “duckling” was really a swan. She watched as it gracefully swam on the pond and brought beauty to the barnyard. All was well once again.
Of course this is Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of “The Ugly Duckling.” The story teaches that things are not always as they appear at first.
This tale reminds me of Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts. Christians had gathered from far and wide to hear Peter preach. A sound came from Heaven and there appeared tongues as of fire, and they began to speak in other tongues. Immediately some began to observe, “They must be drunk to be speaking like that.” It was as if they said, “That’s a turkey egg. I’d know one anywhere.” They acted on insufficient information.
Peter had to rise above the crowd and explain to the assembled masses that the men were indeed not drunk. Rather, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. He went on to explain that it was indeed the Holy Spirit that had come to rest upon them that day, and that each one had understood in his own language.
I see this all the time. First impressions rule the day. I hear people say with the barnyard animals, “That’s a turkey egg.” I hear them say, “They’re drunk.” I even hear it said, “They aren’t like us. They don’t belong here.” Let’s learn from the barnyard animals and those gathered at Pentecost. First impressions can be destructive. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom to discern what is His will for us. It will serve us well.
