“My elder Poppa Nikiphoros was hardly a notable monk. In spite of this I observed great things as his disciple regarding obedience. I had ordered various fruit bearing trees without his consent. Not one of them took despite my effort and care for them. I made a second attempt, this time planting vines without his approval. These didn’t flourish either. Still I tried a third time. The elder reproach me saying that I was troubling myself needlessly. Indeed I failed. And even if a tree did manage to survive it never bore fruit.”
Elder Ephraim
~Obedience is Life