Preserving our Home

Preserving our planet starts with small steps. Everyday. From each of us.

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

A few decades ago, deforestation became a serious problem in our planet.

Today, our environmental conscience has improved and it's common to see that in many places, people  create formulas for reforestation.

Thailand found a peculiar way to recover deforested areas. The Asian country innovated, using military planes to bomb its forests with reforestation bombs. The planes carried seeds from local trees, along with a mixture of clay, earth and compost, which facilitates their germination. These seeds are fully prepared to become giant trees.

The project, started in 2016, is expected to span five years, according to the Thai government. The author of the idea was the Japanese Masanubo Fukuoka whose the technique was perfected, allowing the country to return to nature what was taken from it.

With this method, it is estimated that almost one million trees could be planted daily.

A plan that sows hope for a despoiled planet, a land exhausted by excessive exploitation by its most illustrious inhabitant, man. The same man who now realizes that if he does not care for mother Earth, soon he will no longer have a home, a shelter, a world to live.

Preserving the Environment

For some of us, it may all seem like utopia. The Earth is not heading for any ecological disaster think those who live in places where water, light, food are abundant.

However, every day, the storms that plague certain communities, the climate that seems to have gone mad tell us that it is now up to us to, urgently fix the problems we created as fast as possible.

The alerts are being given, on a constant basis by Mother Earth. Intense cold in places never before invaded by such low temperatures, excessive heat in other locations.

Preserving and safeguarding the environment is fundamental to maintaining the health of the planet, ensuring our own survival. Every effort to protect natural resources, the soil, the water, the air must be considered.

Doing our part

It is time to understand that each of us should look to be content with the necessary. Without wanting too much, without usurping, without forcing, without attacking Earth.

To live we need air, water and generous food. Let us not allow our greed to pollute the atmosphere, destroy the forests and despoil the land.

Our part can be done, wherever we are. After all, who can't plant a tree or help protect existing ones? Who could not reduce food waste, recycle, participate in conscious disposal and collaborate with garbage collection helping to avoid the critical problem of garbage waste we are already in?

Final Thoughts

Any act that harms nature is the result of excessive selfishness and ambition.

Each of us can start now with simple actions to collaborate. Avoid wasting water, wasting food, wasting electricity, reducing extreme consumerism, recycling more and educating our children with concrete examples to do the same.

Think about it!

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on October 19, 2019.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Test of Time

Do you consider yourself happy? Would your happiness stand the test of time?

Photo by Kal Visuals on Unsplash

In the 6th century BC lived Croesus, king of Lydia, the richest man in the world. He ruled with wisdom and arrogance.

In the splendor of his glory, he once hosted Solon, one of the seven sages of Greece in his palace and in order to honor the sage and demonstrate all his power and wealth, the king had a splendid feast prepared. He then invited Solon to visit his treasures: pearls, emeralds, diamonds of all carats, rubies and all sorts of golden statues.

Strangely, Croesus observed that his guest was walking through that immense wealth, with total indifference. And, in the face of the statement which he claimed to be the happiest man in the world for being the richest, the wise sentenced:

My king, no one can ever be considered happy before passing the test of time.

Time is the only component we need to determine if  we are happy or not. After all, it always surprises us with the unexpected.

Life is a succession of events, which completely change our destinies.

Do not forget that happiness is above all that you have.

Croesus did not give any importance to the advice kept increasing his wealth and power.

After some time, however, Cyrus, king of the Persians, marched with his army against Lydia and the king watched, appalled, as the enemy troops entered the palace, killing his best soldiers.

Trapped with his family, he was driven to irons in the capital, now in rubble. Humiliated, he was taken to the central square, tied to a post, on pieces of wood.

When he was about to be burned alive, he recalled as in a flash, the sentence of Solon: No one in the world is happy unless they pass the test of time.

Yes, time had brought him much sadness. His first son - and heir to his throne - had died in a hunting accident, at eighteen. Time had also brought the younger son's deafness and muteness. And now, there he was defeated and humiliated with his wife, his son and the whole court.

What was left of his wealth, which had been savagely plundered by the conquerors? What had been done of his palace, burned by the destroying fate of the winners?

At that moment, he understood that happiness is not having. Happiness is something else.

Happiness is not having

The things of the world are ephemeral.

Assets, from one moment to the next, can be taken away by robbers or carried away by the fury of nature.

If we are now smiling, soon we can be immersed in the sea of ​​tears because an accident robbed us a loved one. Or because Nature rebelled and destroyed our heritage. Or because a terrible disease embraced us and robbed us of the energies of youth, the smile of joy. 

Final Thoughts

Happy is not who has it. Happy is the one who loves because love sings a spring inside the heart.

Naturally, we need money and assets because without a little of everything, we become unbalanced. However, it takes the wisdom to be able to differentiate when you possess thing from whey you are possessed by them. We own money, never the money should own us.

This is a wise posture that gives us tranquility, harmony in living, over time.

Let us think about it and invest in achieving peace and being happy.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on May 08, 2018.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

The Spring of Feelings

Every year when Spring comes, we're euphoric with the colors and the heat but quickly our happiness fades away. Why?

Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash

Spring is a season that usually cheers and inspires a large number of people.

Few are indifferent to it. It is remembered as the season of flowers, as they tend to be exuberant at that time, brightening our eyes with a spectacle of colors.

The air is filled with the aroma of flowers and provokes feelings of well-being, often bringing us good memories of other springs, as the sense of smell has a strong connection with memory.

Birds begin their mating season and, singing, invite a partner to continue their species, perpetuating life.

In the air, pollen from flowers looks for similar specimens so that the visual spectacle continues. Without a doubt it is a season in which there is a real explosion of life in nature!

And we human beings are infected with such exuberance. The higher temperatures invite you to go outside, unlike the frequent winter self-absorption. We take care of our gardens, we prune our trees so that their branches are stronger. 

Back to routine

But after the first weeks, the colors of nature no longer attract our attention because they are no longer new. We go back to the routine. A new winter must make us wish for spring again.

Unfortunately, we behave similarly in our affective relationships. When we meet someone who awakens love in us, we initially feel immense joy, and we start to behave differently.

Just like in the spring, our feelings feel like flowers opening up. Our attitudes towards the loved one are delicate. Our voice has a tone of tenderness like that of a bird.

However, we often let time transform that feeling into routine. We forget to fertilize and water it, as it is no longer a novelty. We allow the heat of discussions and, after them, the cooling of distance and inattention.

So, just as with seasons, we wait for a new spring although we do not strive for it forgetting that we are fully responsible for our feelings.

True love is solid. It gives shelter and security like a leafy tree under which we take shelter. The tree that once was a seed that germinated in fertile soil, which was watered by rain, which gradually took root until it became solid and beautiful and no longer bends to the wind.

Final Thoughts

When we love, we emit thoughts that change our physiognomy, putting a constant smile on our face.

By emitting good thoughts, we modify the energy around us. The energy in which our body is immersed. No wonder that science has shown that those who love maintain their health, delay the aging of their cells and live longer.

Let us always remember that love, as a flower, deserves care, attention and affection. If we love but do not express these feelings in a balanced and constant way, someday it may be gone.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on September 03, 2019.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Poverty and Wealth

Why are successful people unhappy? And why are they leaving their social positions to live a modest, humble life?

Photo by Charl Folscher on Unsplash

By the middle of the 20th century, a film The man who knew too much by Alfred Hitchcock was a huge success. The film popularized a song performed by Doris Day, who recorded more than six hundred songs throughout her career. The chorus said:

What will be, will be.
Whatever it is, it will be.
The future is not ours to see.
That will be, will be.

The concern about the future difficulties we face in life has always troubled us. From an early age we hear from our parents - study if you don't want to have a bad job - as if happiness were totally tied to a good job, to the possession of money and material goods.

We observe today though a reality that has never been considered. Successful people who feel unhappy, leave social positions to live modestly, but in a gratifying way. Those who have always lived in large cities, move to smaller towns in search of a simpler life. Others hang their diplomas and abandon outstanding careers to dedicate their time to philanthropy.

How many of us wouldn't find peace close to nature, planting, harvesting and living a simpler life?

Cultivate inner peace

Cultivating inner peace, a pleasure in life, love for nature, peace in the family, and spreading our wealth to those in need can indeed provide us with what we deeply desire.

Poverty and wealth are invaluable invitations to personal growth. In both situations, we will be able to achieve the real objective of our journey on Earth.

In poverty, we have the sacred opportunity to learn to serve, to exercise patience and resignation.

In wealth, we have the opportunity to experience charity and self-sacrifice.

We will know that we are facing poverty properly when we adapt to the simplicity of life and accept the renunciations that we need to carry out. Likewise, in the face of wealth, it is important to be sensible in the use of goods and facilities to which we have access.

Final Thoughts

We all have been exposed to poverty and wealth one way or another.

Poverty, wealth, lack and fortune challenge us for growth and the sublimation effort. Both are opportunities that we are offered so that we learn to manage our condition of material poverty, enriching ourselves with spiritual blessings.

It's up to us use our wisdom, our time and our assets to help those around us. If we do so, we will realize that through these actions we will gain a deeper understanding of live. Cultivating light and peace, regardless of financial situation, will make us feel valuable and happy.

Knowing and respecting the Divine Laws will allow us to direct the steps towards the greater good, will make us truly poor of folly and authentic rich of solidarity and love.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on March 10, 2018.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

A Poem to God

Would you be able to imagine what a soul would write to God?

Photo by Free To Use Sounds on Unsplash

One day, a soul awakens and delights itself with the morning that stretches on the horizon. It feels as if it is hovering above and beyond the human scale. It remembers being the daughter of a loving and good Father, a Creator who provides everything for everyone. Full of gratitude, it says this verse:

God, intelligence of intelligences, cause of causes, law of laws, principle of principles, reason of reasons, conscience of consciences. Isaac Newton was right to discover himself, every time he spoke Your Name.

God, kind Father, I find you in nature, your daughter and our mother.

I recognize you, Lord, in the poetry of Creation, in the wind that strums harmonies in the hair of the trees.

In colors that are so diverse in hues and gradations.

In the rolling waters, silent, in tiny streams, in the noisy waterfalls, of considerable heights, in the green of the grass that carpets the garden and the squares.

I recognize you, Father, in the flower of gardens and orchards, in the grass of the valleys, in the hue of the fields, in the breeze of the meadows.

Lord, I find you in the scent of the fields, in the murmur of the fountains, in the rumble of the smallest branches of the treetops.

I also discover you in the music of the woods, in the placidity of the lakes, in the pride of the mountains, in the expanse of the oceans, in the majesty of the firmament.

I see you, Lord, in the child who smiles, plays, jumps and spreads joy and laughter.

I recognize you, Father, in the old man who walks slowly, who stumbles. But, above all, in the intelligence he reveals, the result of his well-lived experiences.

I discover you in the beggar who begs, in the helping hand, in the mother who watches, in the father who instructs, in the apostle who evangelizes.

God! I recognize you in my wife's love, in my son's affection, in my sister's esteem, in your indulgent mercy.

And I find you, Lord, in the faith of what you have, in the hope of the peoples, in the charity of the good, in the integrity of the whole.

I recognize you, Lord, in the inspiration of the poet, in the eloquence of the speaker, in the creativity of the artist.

I also find you in the wisdom of the philosopher, in the intellectuality of the scholar, in the fires of the genius!

And you are still in the polar dawns, in the silvery of the moon, in the brightness of the sun, in the brightness of the stars, in the brightness of the constellations.

God! I recognize you in the formation of the nebulae, in the origin of the worlds, in the genesis of the suns, in the cradle of the humanities, in the wonder, in the splendor, in the sublime of the infinite!

Finally, I understand when Jesus prays "Our Father who art in heaven..."  or when angels sing: "Glory to God on high..."

May you find peace you look for in your heart! 🌹🧡🙏

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on September 12, 2016.

See Also

• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem