Ética Espírita

THE SPIRITIST SOCIETY OF FLORIDA AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2022 40 TH ANNIVERSARY of the SS of FL (1982-2022) ACHIEVING PEACE Written by María Luisa Escrich How many times do we hear and pronounce the word “Peace”? We have heard from the great philosophers, writers, poets, etc., on how to find peace. Politicians also talk about peace, while they start up factories to develop weapons for war. There is talk of peace, while weapons are also speaking; they say that they work to achieve peace, but… really, what and how is it done? In my opinion, peace is not reached or achieved if we do not first develop it within ourselves, and we will only achieve it if we get rid of pride, of arrogance; pushing away base instincts that move toward others; placing ourselves at their same level, because no one is above another; respecting those who do not think like us, without trying to impose ideas by force, be they political or religious; that our behavior towards others does not give rise to resentment and hatred… When we are able to see, even if only as friends, those who are actually our brothers. When we are able to achieve Love within us, that grandiose machine that can generate the necessary energy to magnify that Peace, will reign when our planet reaches its total transformation... and a transformation of the human being. There are many scattered throughout the world committed to achieving this transformation, and it would be very beautiful to add or multiply the number of those committed, contributing the best we have: Faith, Hope and Charity. These three virtues, together with Love, will undoubtedly be the creators of a glorious future. And we are capable of creating that future; radiating our thoughts and feelings of Love to all corners of the Earth, with the absolute certainty that they will be seeds that will bear fruit, even when we cannot see it from this side of life. Let us love. Let us love without measure. Love is the most powerful weapon to cleanse souls. Thus, each of them will be able to develop their own inner peace, which will result in a general Peace… The noble love of Jesus encourages us to do great things and moves us to always desire the most perfect. May this Peace be a flame that lights the hearts of all humanity… and lasts until eternity. (Excerpt of article dated 12/30/19 from Association of Spiritual Studies Villena Group in Alicante, Spain, on website: www.amorpazycarida.es) 2 Spiritist Society of Florida, August Newsletter 2022 LOOKING FOR A CULPRIT (A Spirit Message) In times of despair, man wanders the world feeling that he has lost, that he has failed. He feels an emptiness that he does not accept, but that consumes his joy, his desire, his strength and subtracts virtue from his actions, sometimes he can even renounce his faith, or it is insufficient, aggravating his loneliness and pain. But instead of taking the path of virtue and faith to regain strength, or ask for support or follow the beautiful path of the example of those who have emerged from pain, man begins to seek someone responsible for his sorrows and it is there when the storm begins, because then our darkest feelings seek to go out and find someone responsible. In that search, we summon anger, hatred and frustration, leaving aside commonsense, and then, anyone who passes our way is responsible for our pain. We forget then, that the storm does not care of those who get wet, the waves of a raging sea cannot avoid those who cross their path, and because our will is a creative and beautiful force, it also can be destructive when it forgets virtue. This is how that storm looks for a culprit, who deserves punishment! And, we become the executioner. But how can the one who bumped into us in the street, be responsible for our life, if he doesn't know us? How can he who did not listen to us, be responsible for our misfortune? And, the one who doesn't help us, can he be responsible for what he didn't cause? But the storm doesn't stop with strangers, and it also goes against those who love us. Then more serious and illogical things happen. How can the one who sleeps next to us, the infant in its innocence, the one who loves us, be responsible for our pain? The storm does not measure who it affects. It is as if our feelings…and negative emotions do not measure, do not respect, do not value, do not understand, they only attack. At that moment, this search for the culprit becomes endless, and plunges us into a labyrinth, and instead of looking for a solution or peace, we plunge deeper into our misfortune. The man in desperation distrusts, he sees in his brother his enemy; a serious mistake! Today is the time to understand! We will never find the explanation we seek in despair, and anger does not resolve, hate does not guide, anguish does not clarify. “The other” is not responsible, it is us, and when it is us, then we can heal, we can resolve, we can find the way... When we take the power to say, “We are not going to walk in despair! We are not going to give more force to the fire! We are not going to harm those who love us! We are not going to attack those who have done nothing to us!” Then we take over the power of things and summon the love that never fails. If we received harm, we can't go back in time, but we can prevent ourselves from multiplying that damage, giving continuity to that error, affecting another… In the end, the difficulties that occur in our lives will have the power that we give them, and it will be only us who are the authors of our victory or our defeat. Let us always remember that we do know who harmed us, but God knows and His justice solves everything. Let us not forget the past of the soul, which today we do not remember, and great answers are kept dormant about our past lives; where we erred, and today we must honor our debts. [when we cannot find in this life the source of our pain or sorrow - Y.L.] Punishment does not release, love does. Despair only lacerates the soul, while calm heals it. In life's questions, let's not look for paths that solve or clarify nothing. Let's not do harm. Let's look for what gives us peace to regain strength and resume the course... (Rec’d by email from the Jesus of Nazareth Society a Spiritist group in Caracas, Venezuela dated 08/26/22 and translated from the Spanish and edited by Yvonne C. Limoges) 3 Spiritist Society of Florida, August Newsletter 2022 SET GOALS IN YOUR LIFE Spirit communication received by Yvonne Crespo Limoges Don’t be tossed around in LIFE as if a boat on the water without a rudder to steer yourself. Think about what you want to accomplish in this lifetime. Set goals, take the necessary steps to try and achieve them. Focus! Brace yourself for obstacles and setbacks, but do not become discouraged. Take one day at a time! Get rid of negative thoughts and harmful habits. Persistent hard work over time can make a big difference in your life – to take you from point A (where you are now) to point B (where you want to go). Have faith in yourself and God that loves you. THE SCIENCE OF PRAYER Prayer is an invocation by our thought to the Creator or to spirits (whether they are in the material or spiritual worlds). Prayer can be to ask for forgiveness, to ask for blessings, to give thanks, to ask for healing, to plead for help, for mercy, for indulgence, for assistance to correct a fault and for glorification. Prayer is thought transmitted by the force of our will and carried by the Universal Fluid to the recipient. It is an action that has an actual and determined effect. The more pure and sincere sentiments, the stronger the potency of the prayer. Good people’s prayers have more effect than those who are not so good. Good spirits that want to compensate the efforts of those who sincerely pray can second their prayer by a force of their own will. Through prayer we can receive the assistance from the good spirits if it is in accordance with the Supreme Will and universal laws. Prayers can cause change and can work in unison with universal laws such as those of cause and effect. Many times, prayers are answered in such a manner that they may seem to us an effect of chance or received out of the ordinary course of things. Some of our prayers may be answered (and some things may never have occurred, had we not prayed). Some prayers are not answered if it is not in our own best interests for the progression of our spirits or would cause a bad outcome in the future unknown to us. Sincere and heartfelt prayer can provide us with the spiritual assistance we need to have patience, courage, and resignation to support life’s trials and tribulations. Prayer is nourishment for the soul. Prayer makes it easier for us to undergo our trials tests and missions because the good spirits, to reward our humble efforts in sincerely asking for help, they bathe us with their beneficial spiritual energies from the spirit world that can calm us and make us feel more tranquil. Prayer can also inspire (suggestions from spirits) the good ideas we may need to resolve our problems. Prayer is very important and should be practiced sincerely every day. It can be done at anytime and anywhere. It can be short or long; the most important thing is that it is done with humility and is sincere and heartfelt. (Information from Kardec’s, The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch. 27) 4 Spiritist Society of Florida, August Newsletter 2022 YOUTH SPEAKS… YOU WILL SEE THEM AGAIN Inspirationally received by S.P. When a spirit reaches the end of its journey on Earth, it’s not always easy for them to let go. But there is joy when they reunite with friends and loved ones who have already passed on. Not all people realize it, but no matter what happens, the bonds made from sincere love can never be broken. You’ll see them again when your time comes because a love that is true is very powerful. COLLEGE DORMITORY- Spirit Visitor? By S.P. A school friend and I have now started college and are sharing our experiences, especially since we attend different ones. She went away to a college and is staying in a dormitory. I was surprised to hear from my friend that she and the girl she shares a dorm room with, had possibly a spiritual encounter. She reported that her roommate saw a shadowy figure knock over books, but they both felt negative, angry feelings during the incident. I told her to pray. The roommate later told a priest to bless the room. Hopefully, if a spirit was involved it has been taken to where it will find peace, and is away from the girls. BLINDED BY PRIDE Inspirationally received by Gina Dougherty The truth is fought against. For it brings to light the misfortunes of others.  Misfortunes that have always been  and yet have had a blind eye turned against it.  The realization that one has wronged so clearly has but pride to face. And what can be worse to pride than to admit we have so plainly wronged our fellow man;  with words or with actions.  What then can we do, but forget our pride.  LABOR DAY – A PRAYER Bless all those who work for their daily bread; so many people labor in unfair and harsh conditions in the world. Help those who are in need, to find honorable work each day. Keep them from desperation. Provide hopeful inspiration and moral courage so all may support the many trials that can cause both body and spirit to suffer. AMEN ****************************************** Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com Spiritist Society of Florida (est. 1982) 5042 22 Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com