The Power of the Example
José do Espírito Santo was a humble spiritist from Nilópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was talking to a group of friends in front of the spiritist centre:
Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, Sir William Crookes Spiritist Society linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.
– Yes, my friends…. Charity is a huge blessing...
Two students passed by and listened to bits of the conversation. They then said:
– Did you hear that? These spiritists just pretend to be what they are not!
– Yes, that’s true. They just pretend to be following what they are saying.
The guys kept walking and soon later found a homeless person who was looking quite pale and ill. His clothes looked quite dirty and he seemed to be feeling cold. This man lifted his hand up towards the students, as if begging for help.
One of the students gives some coins to him.
They then realized José do Espírito Santo came walking down the street on his own. One of them then says to the other:
– Look who is walking towards us! It’s him! The one who was talking at the spiritist centre! I bet you he won’t give anything to the homeless man.
– Yes, you are right! Let’s watch him. Let’s stay away from here for a while and see what he does.
The two guys decided to hide. The homeless kept begging for help. José comes near him and gives him a fraternal hug. He soon emptied his pockets and realized he doesn’t have any cash on him:
– I am so sorry my friend. I haven’t got even a coin on me...
The two young guys looked at each other and laughed. One of them said:
– Didn’t I tell you?
The spiritist felt so touched by the state of the homeless… The poor man was shaking. José looked around to see if anyone was watching him. He realized the street was pretty empty.
He then took off his sweater and his shirt. He gave it to the poor man who was extremely surprised with his gesture. José then said, with simplicity:
– This is all I have today for you, my friend. I will come back tomorrow. José then left. The poor man was smiling, feeling so happy with his new clothes.
On the following day, the two students entered into the spiritist centre, moved by the example of the spiritist José.