Be Who You Are

Be Who You Are

 

There was a young rabbit named Jonah who lived in the tall grass of a split rail fence row. Every evening he would sit at the edge of the green field and eat. Then he would run across the field as fast as he could, jump into the woods, twirl around and run back to his place in the tall grass. One evening as he was eating, he saw a magnificent deer with large antlers come out of the woods and stand at the edge of the field. He had heard the older rabbits talk of this animal but had never seen one. That night Jonah decided that he wanted to become a deer. He could think of nothing else. So one morning he said goodbye to his family and friends and went into the woods. Several days later he found the deer and began to follow him. He even tried to prance and pretended he had antlers. After some time had passed, Jonah actually began to believe he was a deer. One day a group of hunters with their dogs came into the woods and suddenly the deer bolted and ran. Jonah tried to follow, but though he was a fast runner, he could not keep up. He saw the deer stop and then leap across a fast moving stream. Knowing he was a good jumper, Jonah leaped with all his strength but fell into the rapids and was swept downstream. Finally he washed up onto a rock near the shore and pulled himself to safety, but not before almost drowning. As he sat on the rock thinking about what had happened, he realized he was not a deer and became very sad. A few minutes later he saw a squirrel running through the trees playing. The more he watched, the more he realized how much fun the squirrel was having. He decided that’s what he wanted to be. He ran to greet the squirrel and they played, chasing each other through the woods. Jonah liked being a squirrel because they seemed to play all the time. But after awhile Jonah realized that he could not climb trees, though he tried, and that the nuts the squirrel ate were too hard on his teeth. Sadly he said goodbye and went deeper into the forest.

 

Jonah loved all the things he was learning. He had many experiences and saw many beautiful places. He tried to be just like every animal he met, believing he was their kind, even his mortal enemy the fox. But after several years Jonah became very confused. Early one spring morning while sitting under a large oak tree, he remembered the wide green fields and the tall grass along the fence row and the other rabbits he had left. Suddenly he longed to be there. He thought about the fresh green clover and the sunshine, his place along the fence row and his best friend, the old wise rabbit. So looking around the beautiful forest and thinking about all he had learned, he said goodbye and ran toward the green field.

 

After running all day, Jonah arrived at the edge of the green field just as the sun was setting. He paused, taking a deep breath, smelling the spring scent of new grass; he leaped for joy high in the air and ran across the field toward his place. When he went into the tall grass, he found that his place was still there though in need of some repairs.

 

The next morning Jonah hopped out to the edge of the field to sit in the sunshine. When his friends and family saw him, they ran and greeted him warmly. There were many new rabbits that Jonah did not know. The rest of the day was spent sitting in the tall grass and talking with everyone. Jonah discovered that many of the rabbits had also left to live in other places, one at the edge of a pond on a nearby farm, another in a barn with soft hay, and yet another on a hillside full of briars where he felt protected. But unlike him they had not become confused about who they were. He also discovered that the rabbits he did not recognize were from places he had heard about but could only hope to visit.

 

So it was decided by all the rabbits that in the evenings they would gather in a circle in the green field and tell of their experiences, the places where they had lived and visited and what they had learned. The old wise rabbit would be in charge of the conversations so that everyone did not talk at once. He would call on someone to start and then everyone would have a chance to speak. All those who had left shared about what their lives had been like when they were gone, returning because they missed the tall grass and their places. The new rabbits had come from far away and decided to live in the tall grass after visiting for awhile. Jonah thought them fascinating because they told of things he had never imagined.

 

So each evening the wise old rabbit would call on someone to start the conversation. Jonah soon found that this had become his favorite part of the day. He looked forward to hearing the stories and learning many new things. He realized that what all the other rabbits had done and thought was so interesting that he could sit for the rest of his life in the evening circle. He also knew that some would leave for new places but others would visit and some would stay.

 

Later that night unable to sleep, Jonah sat in the tall grass and looked at the twinkling stars. It was a cold clear winter night and the wind was blowing above his head. Suddenly a warm feeling came over and through his body and he was filled with joy and contentment for the first time. He knew for certain that he was a rabbit, and that he loved being a rabbit. He knew he was born to run.

 

© mBarlew

 

Note: I want to thank all of my dear Flickr friends who take the time to visit and share your life and your stories. I can sit for the rest of my life listening to you in "the evening circle."

 

 

 

 

 

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