On the first day of class, the teacher brought a huge glass:

This is full of perfume. – Said to the students.

I want to measure the perception of each one of you. At the time you smell the scent, raise your hand.

And he opened the bottle. In an instant, there were two hands raised. And soon five, ten, thirty, all hands raised.

May I open the window, professor? – Pleaded a student, nauseated of so much perfume. Other voices echoed.

The strong aroma, that weighed in the air, had become unbearable for everyone.

Then, the teacher showed the bottle to the students, one by one: it was full of water. They could not believe what had just happened.

*   *   *

Until when are we going to buy truths with so much ease?

That has already led us to many disasters...

Instead of finding our own truths, our own understanding of things, we prefer, by ignorance or indulgence, believing the truths of others.

In this way, we become a mass easily suggestible, manipulated, and easily attracted by this or that idea, as absurd as it may be.

We spread rumors only because we have heard of and condemn people, after hearing only one side of the story, destroying lives inconsequentially, by carelessness with the verb.

We develop a foolish pleasure by gossip that, in many cases, becomes a really dangerous addiction, for whom disclosures it and to whom is the target of the mean comments.

We are able to build our own truths, our own understanding about the things of the Earth and the heaven.

Even in the religious field we need to learn how to associate the faith to reason, so that it is not built on fragile foundations – the blind faith.

Reasoned faith is synonymous of safety. Only believe after understanding, after it makes sense within us, and not because this or that person said it so, or because it is written here or there.

When we hear talking about religious fundamentalism we get scared, but, many times, this type of practice is closer than we can imagine and, in other spheres of our life, when we do things without thinking about them, just because it has always been this way.  

Therefore, we should pay a lot of attention in our lives, if we are not buying truths ready from others, without that they make sense to us.

If we are not believing in this or that only by saying, or just by believing, because it is convenient, or for having nothing better to believe.

We can no longer act like a body without a brain, that is easily seduced by novelties, by freak ideas or by wonderful promises.

If we wish to change our leaders, we shall change ourselves first and make us capable of choosing better those who represent us in this or that position.

Finally, we must be careful with our words, so that our truth is not imposed on the other with violence. Everyone has the right to think, to choose and to ratiocinate.

Each person has the right and duty to have their own truth. Let us respect each other. Let us respect the truth of each one.

Spiritist Moment Team, based on the chapter
Celebração da desconfiança, from  O  livro dos abraços,
by Eduardo Gaelano, publisher LPM.
November 3.2014.