One cold night two porcupines found themselves alone out
on the plains in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. There was no shelter
or place to keep warm. They only had their body heat. They were scared that if
they stood too close together during the night one could prick and even kill the
other by mistake. After experimenting they found the right distance to stand
next to each other. They were close enough together that their bodies gave heat
to each other, but far enough apart that they would not prick each other during
the night. So it is with personal human relationships. So too in daily life. We
have to find the right balance: close enough together for friendship and
sharing, but not too close that we would harm each other due to being overly
involved or preoccupied. Stated another way: enough closeness but enough
distance. A Sukuma, Tanzania proverb says, Those who love each other don’t tread
on each others toes.