Saying of the Day

It was said of Abba Poemen that he dwelt at Scetis with his two brothers, and the younger one was a nuisance to them. So he said to the other brother, "This lad is making us powerless, let us get up and go away from here." So they went away and left him. When he saw that they did not come back for a long time, the young brother realized that they were going far away and he began to run after them, crying out. Abba Poemen said, "Let us wait for our brother, for he is worn out."

When he reached them he bowed to them and said, "Where are you going? Are you leaving me on my own?"

The old man said to him, "It is because you are a worry to us that we are going away."

He said to them, "Yes, yes, let us go together wherever you wish."

The old man, seeing his lack of malice, said to his brother, "Brother, let us go back, for he is not doing this on purpose but it is the devil who is doing it." So they turned back and went home again.

Sayings. Poemen. 180.