It is not rare that, anxious to do good, we set out to give away things, to distribute food.

        It is also not rare to hear comments of disappointment, such as: People are never satisfied.

        If I offer soup, they ask if there isn’t anything else. Is I give away clothes, they complain about the color and model.

        Or still: Can you believe the beggar said he did not want the blanket?

         These situations remind us of another one, which happened last century, during the Cultural Revolution in China.

        Fang was a comprehensive person and open to new ideas.

        One of the great accomplishments of the Red Soldiers had been the creation of night schools, which had the objective of teaching the peasants the communist ideas of Mao.

        Everyone received copies of the Red Book.

         Fang was illiterate. Therefore, two young and enthusiastic Red Soldiers decided to teach her how to read.

        She never came to recognize isolated words, but she could memorize whole paragraphs of Mao’s teachings.

        As she did her laundry, cleaned her house, sewed or cooked, her lips moved.

        She recited, in silence, passages from the Red Book. For that, she was considered a model-student.

        Some time passed and the two young women from the Red Army went to visit her. They wished to verify her progress in reading.

         Fang said she was busy and that they should come back later.

         That morning, the used coal refused to light up and the small room was full of smoke.

        The girls left but soon returned, insisting that it was important to verify if the woman understood the teachings from the Red Book of Mao.

        They had to deliver, that night, a report to the group leader.

         Fang became impatient. She asked one of the girls to replace her at the kitchen and the other one to light the fire.

        They exchanged confused looks. Then, the peasant said:

        I could spend every day for the rest of my life memorizing Mao’s teachings.

        But I’d like to know: Who is going to tidy up, clean and cook?

        Who is going to bathe my seven children, sew their clothes, prepare three meals a day, every single day?

        Who is going to do a magic trick to be able to cook?

        Do you think President Mao’s words fill up empty stomachs?

        If you come here every day to help me with my chores, I will learn anything you want to teach me, and much more.

        The girls went away without saying a word and never went back to that house.

*   *   *

        Wishing to do good, analyze what the people you want to help especially need.

        Some are in need of bread, others of clothing. Someone will ask you to decipher the alphabet for them.

        Someone else might wish money to go somewhere. Another one dreams of attending school.

        Think about that: the important thing is not giving, but giving with wisdom what each one needs and hopes for.

        This way, your gesture will reach higher goals, fulfilling real needs.

Spiritist Moment  Team,
based on chapter 2 from Li Cunxin’s book Adeus,
China – o último bailarino de Mao,
Publishing House Fundamento.
December 22.2008.