Gentleness generates Gentleness

Gentleness generates gentleness.

How a simple phrase can make so much sense nowadays.

A simple attitude that makes the difference in a world hungry for peace and love.

I want to take the example of a man called José Datrino or Profeta Gentileza, that became famous in 80's for his words written under a viaduct in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

While a child he had a very simple life in a rural area, where he started to work very young with his 9 brothers. Because of his work he learned to brake in donkeys. Many years later, he would describe himself as "the tamer of not clarified urban men".

When he was 12 years-old, he started to have premonitions about his mission in the world, where he believed one day he would leave family and possessions to do it. Eight years later he moved to Rio, where he got married and had 5 children. There he opened his small company, which became successful.

In 1961 there was a big fire at the circus called "Gran Circus North-American", a tragedy that killed more than 500 people, most of them children. Some days after, José got up saying that he was called to abandon the material world to dedicate himself only to the espiritual life. He got into his truck and went to the place of the tragedy and planted a garden. He lived there for 4 years, where he did volunteer, consolating the families of the victims with his words of kindness.

After leaving this place (which was named "Gentleness Paradise"), Profeta Gentileza started his journey as a hiker. He crossed all the city, doing his 'preaching' of words of love, generosity and respect for everyone around. For those who would call him crazy he would say "I am crazy to love you and mad to save you".

In the 80's he chose 56 walls in the city to write his manifest (in green and yellow), criticizing the world and giving his alternative to the illness of the civilization. His main phrase was "Gentleness generates gentleness".

He was 79 years old when he died, in 1996, in the city where his family lives. Some years later, these columns got damaged by vandalists. After that they were painted with gray. Some people protested, so the prefecture of Rio helped to organize the project "Rio of Gentleness", which restaured his paints. He became famous and many books and articles were written about him, besides a song of a famous brazilian singer, Marisa Montes.

From this story I can see how we can change things by our attitudes. I am sure there are many people doing amazing things to the others, but we can also do. What we do, we get back. May we plant love and generosity to make the world a better one. Love and peace to you!