How to Pet a Porcupine

I discovered something new in a staff meeting a few weeks ago, and that is that you can pet a porcupine without getting hurt. I have never actually pet a porcupine, but I was told it is possible without a follow-up trip the hospital, if you do it correctly.

Porcupine

Photo courtesy of © flickr.com/photos/arthur_chapman/3986448936/

If you want to pet a porcupine without getting stuck by a bunch of quills you don’t run up and startle it.  You don’t quickly scoop it up into your hands and give it a big hug.  If you want to pet a porcupine you have to develop trust with it.  First, you hold out your hand to see if it wants to come near and sniff you. Only after it sniffs you can you pet it, but you have to do it a certain way starting at the head and petting down.  To pet a porcupine any other way could potentially hurt…a lot.

Some people are a lot like porcupines. They have quills, and they will stick you if you handle them the wrong way.    You know the kind of people I am talking about, they tend to be a bit grouchy, pessimistic, standoffish and avoid personal contact, have a tendency to complain and point out the bad in a situation, etc…  These people tend to be a lot like porcupines.  If you run up and startle them you’re going to get hurt.  If you try to pressure them into doing something you’re going to get hurt.  If you cross their path in a way they don’t like, start looking for the nearest hospital.

To pet one of these porcupines requires developing trust just like a real porcupine. No, holding out your hand to see if they sniff you is probably not the best way to go about it, but spending time getting to know them is.  Learning about their perspective, their past, their priorities can give you insight in how best to go about working and getting along with them.  Taking the time to building trust with can go a very long way, and save you a lot of pain in the end.  Just as I am sure petting a real porcupine is an amazing experience, I know that getting someone who is a bit prickly on your side can be just as fulfilling.

Also, for those who are pastors of churches and have opportunity to work with porcupines, the reality is that they are also sheep in need of a good shepherd. They can’t simply be dismissed. You can’t just steer clear of them like you might a real porcupine in the wild. You have to learn to pet them.  You have to learn to lead them. So you might as well do it the right way, and save yourself some pain.

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

267,501 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine

  1. I think that what you said made a ton of sense. However,
    consider this, what if you were to create a killer post title?
    I mean, I don’t wish to tell you how to run your website,
    but what if you added a title that makes people want more?
    I mean How to Pet a Porcupine | is a little boring.
    You should look at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create news titles
    to get people to click. You might try adding a video or a related
    picture or two to get people excited about everything’ve
    got to say. Just my opinion, it might make your website a little livelier.

  2. Чтобы исключить суету и случайные усиления, первые часы делим на небольшие «окна»: цель — действие — маркер — критерий перехода. Если отклика нет, корректируется один элемент — темп инфузии, очередность модулей или поведенческий якорь — и назначается новая точка оценки.
    Исследовать вопрос подробнее – вывод из запоя цена в саратове

  3. Мы предлагаем дипломы любой профессии по приятным ценам. Цена может зависеть от выбранной специальности, года получения и образовательного учреждения: digdroid.com/forums/entry/signin

  4. I’m not certain the place you are getting your information, however good topic. I must spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for wonderful info I used to be searching for this info for my mission.

  5. I am now not certain where you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend a while finding out much more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent information I used to be searching for this information for my mission.

  6. Saya adalah seseorang yang sering menghabiskan waktu di dunia digital, terutama ketika berkaitan dengan topik
    seperti KUBET, Situs Judi Bola Terlengkap, Situs Parlay
    Resmi, Situs Parlay Gacor, Situs Mix Parlay, Situs
    Judi Bola, toto macau, kubet login, situs parlay,
    Kubet Parlay, dan Judi Bola gacor. Kendati saya
    tidak begitu menonjol, saya selalu berusaha membangun percakapan yang baik dengan komunitas
    yang saya temui secara online. Saya sering menjelajahi blog dan forum sesuai minat, karena aktivitas
    tersebut membantu saya memperluas wawasan setiap harinya.
    Nama saya adalah Gladys dan saya tinggal di France,CENTRE,Blagnac,
    31700,57 Rue Marie De Medicis,542208012,, dengan usia
    sekitar 26 tahun. Saya ingin tetap berkembang melalui berbagai informasi
    online, serta tetap berkontribusi dalam komunitas online di berbagai platform yang saya ikuti.

  7. I’m now not sure the place you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend a while studying much more or working out more. Thank you for wonderful info I was in search of this info for my mission.

  8. I am now not certain the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I must spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent info I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.

  9. I am not sure where you’re getting your info, however great topic. I must spend a while finding out much more or understanding more. Thank you for great info I used to be in search of this information for my mission.