The Dirty Swan

Once upon a time in a dirty land far far away there lived a swan. This swan was as black and dirty as a storm cloud on an angry night. She was most unpleasant to be with for when she flew she left dust of shame and hurt where ever she went. Because she was so black and dirty she never wanted to be seen so she hid. She always hung her head low and rarely talked to anyone. During the day she would hide herself in bushes that were close to the ground. She would crawl under one of these bushes into the darkest spot and hide her slender dirty face under her dirty wing.

She would stay in this awfully dirty uncomfortable position until past night fall the whole time thinking or dreaming in of filth and sorrow. Then she would crawl out when most proper and respectable folk had gone to bed. She would crawl out and find a lake or pond of any kind, they were always full of very nasty water though. She would then swim and dive in the water and find food to eat. This was a great pleaser in life but she was always careful never to see her reflection in the water for she despised seeing herself and her dirtiness. And so she lived like this day after day, week after week, month after month, season after season, and year after year.

She was always unhappy. She was never quite wicked but she wasn’t good either. She was kind to those she meet which she spent most of her time alone for she despised being seen and therefore did not meet many and she hated the light. For the light showed her how dirty and dark she was and that was the worst thing, so she avoided the light of the sun like it was death itself.

One evening when she could no longer find food in the dirty nasty pond that she had been living by for months now. She set out to find a new pond or lake and when she started to fly she meet a dove, this birds name was Message.

She was a very pretty bird, for she was a white dove that sang sweetly and was as white as the clouds on a sunny summer day. She told the dirty swan that she knew where a nice lake was where there was always plenty of food. So even though the swan disliked the pretty little bird because she was so white and seemed to glow with light she followed her for the dirty swan needed food and there was something sweet in the doves voice that she had never heard before.

They arrived a little bit before sunrise and the dirty swan decided to risk taking a dip in the lake before sunrise. The lake was very beautiful, too beautiful if you had asked the swan. She dived in the water and I must mention that this was no ordinary lake for when washed in this water you were cleansed of all of your sin, dirtiness, pain, hurt and suffering, and that is what happens to the dirty swan. The dirty swan went in the lake a dirty ugly creature and came up new and spotless white. She was as white and pure as snow on a beautiful pure winter day. When she came up out of the water she saw what she thought was the moon glistening on the lake but when she looked into the water she saw her reflection and saw how pure and good she was and how the light in her eyes was glistening. The Sun began to rise and for the first time in a long time the swan embraced the light and welcomed the sun.

After that day she swam in the lake every day and she became purer and lovelier day by day. She also learned that she lived at the lake of Forgiveness in the valley of Progress that was ruled by a King and His Son who ruled together with love, light, and goodness. Many weeks after the swan became new and had learned many things she was out on the lake early one morning floating lightly upon the pure clear water when a bright blinding light shown in the eastern sky. She thought it must be the sun rising, when she looked again it was the sun and with it was the Son of the King the one who made the lake of Forgiveness, the one who gave His life to make that lake and that forgiveness possible. It was a beautiful coming and when He came, He welcomed all of the birds in His land of Progress that had chooses Him and the light of His knowledge and goodness. She flew to Him and knelt at His feet. He tenderly picked her up and told her of His love for her. He kissed her head gentlely and welcomed her into His kingdom. Then with Him by her side she flew into Heaven the land of complete purity and joy.

The End

By Lyissa Anderson