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 to Diplomi_uxMl Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

93,852 thoughts on “How to Pet a Porcupine

  1. Hi there! This article couldn’t be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I am going to send this article to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a great read. Thank you for sharing!

  2. Estou completamente alucinado por BetPrimeiro Casino, e um cassino online que explode como um vulcao em furia. O catalogo de jogos do cassino e uma erupcao de emocoes, com caca-niqueis de cassino modernos e inflamados. O suporte do cassino ta sempre na ativa 24/7, respondendo mais rapido que uma explosao vulcanica. O processo do cassino e limpo e sem erupcoes, mesmo assim mais bonus regulares no cassino seria brabo. Em resumo, BetPrimeiro Casino e um cassino online que e uma cratera de diversao para quem curte apostar com estilo ardente no cassino! De bonus a plataforma do cassino brilha com um visual que e puro fogo, faz voce querer voltar ao cassino como uma lava sem fim.
    betprimeiro e confiГЎvel|

  3. Этот интересный отчет представляет собой сборник полезных фактов, касающихся актуальных тем. Мы проанализируем данные, чтобы вы могли сделать обоснованные выводы. Читайте, чтобы узнать больше о последних трендах и значимых событиях!
    Ознакомиться с теоретической базой – https://www.emr-online.com/instagram

  4. J’adore la vague de Posido Casino, ca degage une ambiance de jeu aussi fluide qu’un courant oceanique. L’eventail de jeux du casino est un ocean de delices, offrant des sessions de casino en direct qui eclaboussent. Les agents du casino sont rapides comme une vague deferlante, repondant en un eclat d’ecume. Les paiements du casino sont securises et fluides, parfois j’aimerais plus de promotions de casino qui eclaboussent. Pour resumer, Posido Casino c’est un casino a explorer sans tarder pour ceux qui cherchent l’adrenaline fluide du casino ! En plus l’interface du casino est fluide et eclatante comme une mer turquoise, facilite une experience de casino aquatique.
    posido no deposit bonus|

  5. Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
    The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Safari.

    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility
    but I thought I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though!
    Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Thanks

  6. I’ve been browsing online more than three hours nowadays, yet I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty value sufficient for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the net shall be much more useful than ever before.

  7. Эта статья сочетает в себе как полезные, так и интересные сведения, которые обогатят ваше понимание насущных тем. Мы предлагаем практические советы и рекомендации, которые легко внедрить в повседневную жизнь. Узнайте, как улучшить свои навыки и обогатить свой опыт с помощью простых, но эффективных решений.
    Откройте для себя больше – http://www.qmbecanada.com/?p=221

  8. Having read this I thought it was extremely enlightening.
    I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this article together.
    I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments.

    But so what, it was still worth it!