The White Rabbit

In 1998, an F5 tornado landed in our backyard. The White Rabbit, a beloved figure in our woods, was forcefully flipped upside down, his ears driven hard into the dirt. Amid the chaos and destruction, we found him there, toppled and buried. Gently, we turned him right side up, and since that moment, he has been on the lookout—ever watchful, ever resilient.

Yesterday, as I passed by him, I was reminded of life’s unexpected moments that turn our world upside down. At first, the shock is overwhelming, the change disorienting, even painful. But over time, we find ways to right ourselves, to adapt and survive. The seasons continue to change, the birds still sing, and life unfolds just as it did before—except now, we may see it with new eyes, a perspective sharpened by the trials we have faced.

Like The White Rabbit, we have the capacity to renew ourselves, to refresh our appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. We can be more mindful of the little moments—the rustling leaves, the warmth of the sun, the laughter of loved ones. In the wake of upheaval, we are given the opportunity to grow stronger, to deepen our faith, and to embrace the natural rhythms of creation.

Life will always bring unexpected storms, but like The White Rabbit, we can choose to remain vigilant, standing firm in the face of change, always on the lookout for the lessons and blessings that emerge from life’s most turbulent seasons.