peanut the baby owl

I have my aunt to blame for my current obsession. She forwarded a link to me for a non-profit group in the Netherlands who operate live cams on several different bird nests...one of those being the Stone Owl [Steenuil...if you know Dutch]. Anyway, my heart has been captured by the funny, gross, endearing antics of this owl family.

This past week, three of the four owlets have fluttered away from their home...leaving one little owl behind that I have named Peanut. The last sibling left almost 2 days ago. I'm thinking that Peanut is a girl, but I don't know for sure. She just seems a little more fearful and reserved than the others. I check on Peanut often during the day via the internet...every time anticipating that she has mustered the courage to take her first step off the ledge and into flight. But alas, she seems a tad flustered with the whole flying thing. The mama owl continues to come and feed her, and when she leaves, little Peanut will stand on the outside perch and make the most heartbreaking little sounds. She will shuffle her feet, bob up and down...and just the time you think she's going to take the plunge, she retreats into the safety of her manmade home and takes a nap. Both Keith and I at various times have been glued to the computer screen urging her on, "C'mon Peanut. You can do it baby."

She wants to fly so badly. She practices in the nest. She'll back up several steps and then lift her wings and flap. I've even seen her outside on the perch with her baby talons clutching the wood and her little wings flapping as hard as she can. But what she longs to do...what God has wired her to be will never be realized until she let's go of the familiar and takes that first step into the unknown.

Needless to say...Peanut's struggle has spoken spiritual volumes to me these past couple days. Reminding me to trust in the Lord with ALL my heart, leaning not on my own understanding. Acknowledging Him in all my ways, resting in His promise that He WILL direct my paths. [Proverbs 3:5 & 6]

Here is Peanut just before the #3 sibling leaves the nest. Video created by Beleef de Lente.