Hedgehog and the Man in the Wilderness by Inga Wismer (novels to read for beginners .txt) 📖

Puff-puff-puff. Hedgehog is happily checking things out and snorting. Spines laying flat all over. He feels comfortable and safe.
Suddenly he sees somebody from afar and has his spines become erect on forehead and he is cautious and uncertain.
Hedgehog: Who is it over there?
Man: I’m a man in the wilderness. Who are you and where are you heading?
Hedgehog: I’m a hedgehog and I’m wandering into the unknown.
Man: Welcome to my modest dwelling dear Hedgehog.
Hedgehog: Thank you Man in the wilderness, I like your home. Do you enjoy living here?
Man: Yes, I take pleasure in seeing a change of seasons, small and overlooked miracles of nature. This time in the fall is especially beautiful when air is thinner and cooler and everything has this final and magnificent look before it fades, turns brown and dissipates over the winter.
Hedgehog: What do you eat here?
Man: I forage for mushrooms and edible plants. I love to eat autumn olive berries and often make spice bush tea—it has divine aroma! For that purpose I also gather mountain mint. You can also make a drink from sassafras root—the only type of tree that has different types of leaves on its trunk. This fall I was lucky enough to find a lot of mushrooms such as puffballs and Boletes that are quite tasty and good in soups.
Hedgehog: Do you live here all alone, what do you do?
Man: I don’t need much company, my friend; I’m used to living a simple life. I’m rethinking life, the world, existence itself. I’m a philosopher and often my ideas are not accepted by others. However my goal is not to please them. They call me a man of thousand voices or a fool on a hill especially because I always have this grin on my face and I also live on a top of a hill.
Man: Hedgehog, please tell me, am I a fool on the hill or the people who believe me to be so?
Hedgehog: Madness, like beauty is in the eye of beholder. Nobody should judge you without knowing you. However your life sounds monotonous and you don’t have a thirst for adventure like I do.
Man: I don’t need to see new lands, I have new eyes! Being here for many years, reflecting and meditating awakened all my senses and made me content with what I have, which is a lot! What I failed to do before through the bigness of my ideas I achieved now through the smallness of my life.
Man: Why did you come from so far away?
Hedgehog: I’m on my journey through life being captivated my images, symbols, music and dreams. I have no final destination. I like to meet new people and see different places.
Man: To get somewhere you have to leave something behind. Do you have any regrets?
Hedgehog: I don’t even recall my place of origin. I’m just wandering in search for something evasive, something good and beautiful but yet unknown.
Man: Your life sounds hectic. That is strange because for me beauty and contentment comes from within and leads to a lasting joy. It also comes from my ability to reflect, interpret and enjoy the present. Most of the world never reflects anymore because they are preoccupied with their worries, think what they will do next and are always rushing somewhere.
Man: Do you ever take time to watch clouds or stars?
Hedgehog: No, I guess I’m always rushing somewhere.
Man: Then lay down next to me.
Both lay down to watch the sky.
Hedgehog: It feels very peaceful.
Man: Do you think that cloud looks like an angel with a horn?
Hedgehog: Yes, it really does. How beautiful…
Both rose up.
Man: Our interest in this single cloud is worth more than a complete but dry study of geology with its tables, charts, and descriptions. Enjoy what you are seeing, Hedgehog!
Hedgehog: I’ve learned a lot from you. Thank you for sharing your life with me, man in the wilderness. You have a beautiful and mystifying vision, you can see God everywhere.
Man: I was very glad you stopped here, Hedgehog. You are very kind-hearted and curious. Be happy on your journey no matter where you are! Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you have always imagined.
Hedgehog with a smile: Thank you, my friend. You too, be happy in your solitude.

Publication Date: 02-21-2013

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