Orthodox Parables and Stories: "The Obedient Hedgehog"

A man once visited Elder Paisios with his grandson. He wanted to get his blessing and discuss with him some issues that concerned him. The Elder treated them, and then the grandfather asked the boy to go for a walk, so that he could speak in peace with the Elder. Indeed, the boy went to the back of the cell and started playing.

At one point he was heard shouting:

"Grandfather, grandfather!"

The Elder, without seeing anything with his physical eyes, smiled and shouted at him:

"Take him and bring him here with you!"

Soon, much to the surprise of his grandfather, the boy brought with joy a hedgehog and left him in front of the Elder's feet. Elder Paisios got up, walked into the cell and the hedgehog slowly began to move away. In a few minutes the Elder came out holding a pocketknife, with which he cut a tomato. He saw the hedgehog walking away and told him, as if addressing a reasonable being:

"Hey, lad! Wait a minute, I'll bless you!"

The hedgehog stopped abruptly and stood still. The Elder approached him and threw the tomato in front of him. The animal, after eating the elder's blessed tomato, continued on its way again.