DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS AN UGLY DUCKLING?

"Genuine spiritual faith (true moral consciousness) is revealed in that it: Generates profound courage and confidence despite natural adversity and physical calamity… Belief may not be able to resist doubt and withstand fear, but faith is always triumphant over doubting, for faith is both positive and living… Faith most willingly carries reason along as far as reason can go and then goes on with wisdom to the full philosophic limit; and then it dares to launch out upon the limitless and never-ending universe journey in the sole company of TRUTH.” [Quotes from the Urantia Book]

Teacher: “Dear child, let us elaborate on that very important topic for Faith. First of all, let me tell you that I have faith in you. What does it evoke in you when you hear such a statement of faith? Doesn’t it make you feel empowered? This is what faith does. It overrides all the sabotaging ‘can’t do’ affirmations—whether they come from within you or from the outside.

“The ‘can do’ and ‘can’t do’ arise from belief systems that—unless they have their foundation in Truth with “T”—can infuse those who subscribe to them to the assimilation in their being of erroneous and disempowering credos such as the one that human beings are sinful and unworthy; that it is way beyond their ability to establish a personal connection with their Divine Fragment and that they should solely rely on go-betweens—self-proclaimed spiritual leaders or leaders selected by the impressionable masses.

“‘Faith is both positive and living.’ It does not gather dust as it cannot be shelved like some books of stale and crystallized beliefs that are consulted once in a while.

“Faith can be compared to the impulse experienced by a restless horse wanting to be set free from the constricted space of its pen in order to freely roam the countryside. Faith is what drives the young bird to take its first tentative flight out of the family nest.

“This is why faith is ‘living’ as it takes action and overrides procrastination. Faith is when you KNOW that you have been endowed with greater potentials that only you can develop. Faith is when you TRUST in the positive outcome of your leaps of faith knowing that an invisible divine safety net will catch you, should you would fall short of your intended target. Faith is what tells you that ‘All is well’ and that, with the Father’s help, you will either always land on both feet or deploy your wings.

“Dear ones, yes, Faith is courageous but the rewards of such bravery are commensurate with the chances you take. You have to start somewhere and a small leap of faith is still a leap in the right direction. As you succeed in your initial attempts, you will develop more courage, confidence and determination; you will not allow fallible human beings who are passive in their convictions to deter you from shooting for the stars as it would disturb their complacency to see you leave the herd in order to find out who you truly are. The ugly duckling of your tale had the privilege to know that it did not fit in and was different. His leap of faith was also its metamorphosis into a magnificent swan.”

“To be born in a duck’s nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan’s egg. He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and happiness around him; for the great swans swam round the new-comer, and stroked his neck with their beaks, as a welcome.” [Excerpt from “The Ugly Duckling” by Christian Andersen]