Of wood duck chicks

So here it begins; in less than two weeks, I'll get on a plane (for the first time in my life) to leave the country (for the first time in my life) to Hanoi in Vietnam (for the first time in my life). Alone.

Maybe that's not so impressive to you...but I really don't know why. Why you would be proud or impressed or think I'm brave or something is beyond me, and it won't be tolerated at all.

I think to myself every now and then, you guys shouldn't be proud of me, or impressed, or think I'm brave.

I'm just young, naive, and could think of nothing sooner than leaving the country for a couple months to see a few countries eleven hours removed from my hometown.

Speaking of my hometown, I've lived in Minneapolis my entire life. I've spent the majority of my life in a triple bunk with my two brothers, and I've not moved out, gone to college, or learned to sustain myself.

Yet somehow even now, 13 days from my date of departure, I am unworried. I had a couple seconds of panic as I was waking up this afternoon (I've been sleeping really odd hours, and I'm honestly wondering how it'll affect my jetlag), but it passed. Doubtless I'll feel more as plans and reality progresses, but for now, all I can think is...

I'm going far, far away, and I'm still in a somewhat shocked, disbelieving state, unsure of what's about to happen. This wood duck is leaving the nest.

Wood ducks nest in trees, and until they leave the nest, they've never used their wings or flown in any capacity; they've stayed in their nest all their lives. One day (perhaps the mother decides, perhaps they do, I can't remember), they jump out, plummet earthward, and hopefully, hopefully, their wings begin to flap, and they wind feel pressing on feeble frame, feathers tensing, gravity defeated.

I'll probably post photos of my packing process when I get it more organized and complete.



Oh, and you could pray for this little wood duck. He relies only on God's love.


 !Noah!