As the story goes, on a large river, very difficult to cross, a ferryman would take people from one side to the other.

In one of his crossings, he was carrying an attorney and a teacher.

Very talkative and haughty, the attorney asks the ferryman:

Partner, do you know anything about laws?

No, was the ferryman's answer.

And the compassionate lawyer adds:

What a shame... You have lost half of your life!

The teacher, very sociable, joins the conversation:

Mister ferryman, can you read and write?

Not at all. Replies the boatman.

What a pity! Sympathizes the teacher. You have lost half of your life!

Suddenly, a large wave capsizes the boat.

The concerned ferryman asks:

Can you both swim?

No! Both quickly reply in unison.

Too bad! - Concludes the boatman. You have lost your whole lives!

*   *   *

The text, by the educator Paulo Freire, shows with wit and depth, that there are no more or less important knowledge, only different ones.

Each of us is important and has something to contribute to society.

Each one, with their own skills, in their specific area of knowledge, is part of a large clockwork, in Earth as in the Cosmos.

To make this clockwork work, each cog must be perfectly fitted, some giving and some receiving, and vice-versa.

Together we make up a whole, where important, supportive little pieces complement each other, making up for another's deficiencies.

The greater Law of Progress dictates that someday all of us will know all about everything. However, in this long trail, we must pick up this knowledge gradually.

The Divine Wisdom, always incomparable, make us dependent from each other, so we will help our neighbor instead of isolating ourselves.

Thus societies need attorneys, teachers, physicians. But they also need ferrymen, street-sweepers, musicians and so on.

And therein lies the beauty of life, the skills that that complement each other and allow us not only to live, but to live well.

*   *   *

Never look down on occupations that seem too simple or automatic.

Manual labors are as enriching for the soul as those that require much knowledge.

Each one must serve according to their strengths, to the best of their capacity. Our differences make us richer, learning from each other in every situation.

Let us use the opportunities of learn from diversity, building in our intimacy the virtues of humility and respect.

Cheers for the diversity that can live together in harmony!

Spiritist Moment Team, based upon the text A canoa, by Paulo Freire.
October 29.2010.