by Beverly McNeff
When I became a mother, I was given the opportunity to be exposed to classic “baby” literature. You know, Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, The Wheels on the Bus, and, of course, Runaway Bunny. Most parents know Runaway Bunny, and they always nod with a knowing smile when the title is mentioned. After I read it (which takes about two minutes), I understood why they smiled.
Runaway Bunny is about a little bunny that runs away from his mother. Wherever the bunny goes, however, his mother is right there. Here’s how it goes…
Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. So he said to his mother, “I am running away.”
“If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.”
“If you run after me,” said the little bunny, “I will become a fish in a trout stream and I will swim away from you.”
“If you become a fish in a trout stream,” said his mother, “I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you.”
“If you become a fisherman,” said the little bunny, “I will be a bird and fly away from you.”
“If you become a bird and fly away from me,” said his mother, “I will be a tree that you come home to.”
“If you become a tree,” said the little bunny, “I will become a little sailboat, and I will sail away from you.”
“If you become a sailboat and sail away from me,” said his mother, “I will become the wind and blow you where I want you to go.” . . .
As you can see, the bunny tries hard to run away, but each time his mother finds a way to stay with him, reminding him always that she is with him. We are much like that bunny; we try desperately to run away from God. We may not become a fish or a bird, but we make distorted images of ourselves, images we believe will take us further and further away from God. We make ourselves calculating, distant, distracted, dispassionate, uncaring, unloving, depressed, incompetent, etc., and think in some way that keeps us away from God and His Love. Perhaps we are now yearning to get back to His Love and Help, but we really don’t know how. We think we have been gone so long, done so many terrible things, are simply not worthy, and so on. Well, Runaway Bunny continues . . .
“If you become the wind and blow me,” said the bunny, “I will become a little boy and run into a house.”
“If you become a little boy and run into a house,” said the mother bunny, “I will become your mother and catch you in my arms and hug you.”
“Shucks,” said the bunny, “I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny.”
And so he did.
The bunny found his way back because he knew there was never a time or place where he could be absent from his mother’s love. This is the awareness that must dawn on our minds and will, if we simply stop running, look straight at the challenges of life, and know we are safe in God’s loving Arms.
“Father, Your way is what I choose today. Where it would lead me do I choose to go; what it would have me do I choose to do. Your way is certain, and the end secure. The memory of You awaits me there. And all my sorrows end in Your embrace, which You have promised to Your Son, who thought mistakenly that he had wandered from the sure protection of Your loving Arms.” (W-317)
How do we tie it together?
Intellectually knowing we are worthy of God’s love and knowing we are with Him always is a start, but experiencing that is quite another thing. How do we tie it all together? The Course explains:
“There is no question but one you should ever ask of yourself; — ‘Do I want to know my Father’s Will for me?’ He will not hide it. He has revealed it to me [Jesus] because I asked it of Him, and learned of what He had already given. Our function is to work together, because apart from each other we cannot function at all. The whole power of God’s Son lies in all of us, but not in any of us alone. … We cannot be separated. Whom God has joined cannot be separated, and God has joined all His Sons with Himself. (T-8.VI.8)
We are told again that we cannot run away from God, for we are tied to Him, joined in love. And, we are joined with each other, for that is God’s Will. You cannot know who you are or your value while you hold one aspect or part of the Sonship as separate from you. If we do so, we will not know God’s Will for us, feel his loving Arms surrounding us, hear His Voice, know our true potential, or be able to function at all.
We do not have to be perfect in our attempts; we just need to be willing to know God’s Will for us.
Let us not run away from His Will. Ask yourself, “Do I want to know my Father’s Will for me?” Your willingness to say “yes” means you are willing to face those limiting thoughts, knowing you are God’s treasure. You are willing to face those seemingly “justified” attacks you have made, knowing they have not changed God’s opinion of you. You are willing to give those who walk this world with you some compassion and understanding, knowing this will be the gift you receive the moment it is given. And, in doing so, you will remember…
… all my sorrows end in Your [God’s] embrace, which You have promised to Your Son, who thought mistakenly that he had wandered from the sure protection of Your loving Arms.” (W-317.2)
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