When I was a child, my heart was always deeply touched by the Hans Christian Andersen story entitled "The Ugly Duckling." Even today this story moves me because it is so symbolic of much of human experience.
Suffering through winter without love and companionship, the "duckling" had a poor regard for itself. It had no idea of its true origin and birthright. When it saw some migrating swans, it was strangely moved by the sight.
To what do we owe our existence—to accident
or design? Are we a biological miracle, a marvel of
molecular organization, or do we have a controlling
spiritual cause and purpose?
