The Four Seasons of Life

As with nature, our life is also composed of seasons. Learn how.

Photo by Vincentiu Solomon on Unsplash

Have you ever noticed the perfection that exists in nature? An indisputable proof of the harmony that governs the universe.

As in a cosmic poem, God rhymes human life with the rhythm of the infinite.

When we are born, it is spring that bursts with its perfumes and colors. The skin is lush, hair and eyes shine, the smile is easy. Everything translates hope and joy.

It's the delicate spring, like the children who delight our eyes with their grace. At this time, everything ends in smiles. No worries can disturb the soul.

Then comes youth corresponding to the height of Summer. A season of warmth and beauty, blessed by occasional rain. The Sun warms souls, and promises are renewed.

Young people believe that they can do anything. They are impetuous, vibrant. That they will make revolutions in the world, and will fix all mistakes. They bring the soul warmed by enthusiasm. 

Your strong impulses can also be fleeting... like summer storms.

But life moves quickly.

And one day – what a surprise – the strength of Summer is gone.

Then Fall arrives. A look in the mirror shows us wrinkles, our hair begins to turn gray. But that is also a sign that the mind achieved maturity, the achievement of a more complete vision of existence.

During this season, the word is plenitude.

Autumn refers to a time of reflection and profound beauty. Its inspiring landscapes – with golden leaves and skies of incredible colors – perfectly reflect this moment in our lives. In the Autumn of existence there is no longer childish naivety or the uncontained impetus of youth, but there is accumulated wisdom, experience and a lot of willingness to live each moment, enjoying every second.

But, one day, Winter comes.

The most unsettling of seasons. Many fear winter, as they fear old age. But how can they forget the mysterious beauty of snow-covered landscapes?

Time to slow down? Partly.

But Winter is also the time to share experiences. Who said old age is sad? It can be warm and happy, like a winter night in front of the fireplace, in the company of loved ones.

Old age can also be hot chocolate, kind smiles, peaceful reading, generosity with children and grandchildren. Just don't let the cold chill your soul.

If we learn to enjoy the beauty of each season, we will always be happy. From Spring we carry spontaneity and joy throughout our lives. From Summer, lightness and willpower. From Autumn, reflection. From Winter, the experience that is shared with loved ones.

Final Thoughts

The message of the seasons in our lives goes further.

If you think about old age with sadness, dismiss that idea immediately. Remember that after winter spring comes again.

As everything starts again, we too will start over. Our trajectory does not end at the end of winter. There are other lives, with new seasons. And again, we will all begin in the spring of age. After death, we will resurface on other planes of life. And we will be full, we will be beautiful. That's enough to love.

Love a lot.

Love people, flowers, animals, the worlds that revolve serenely. Love, finally, Divine Creation. Love so much that life becomes an eternal spring.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, available on CD Momento Espírita, v.13, ed. FEP.

See Also

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

Pleasures

How far can your pleasures take you? How much can they affect your life?

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Every man and woman seeks pleasure and well-being. It is a reflection of the conservation instinct, whose objective is to ensure physical existence for as long as possible.

Material life is essential to the intellectual and moral development of the human being and their immortal Spirit.

Sex is pleasurable and through it the species is perpetuated. If there were no satisfaction involved in procreative acts, Humanity would be extinct for a long time.

Food also involves pleasure. The physical body needs to receive fuels suitable for its structure. But meeting this need is not only due to the hunger but also involves satisfaction.

Meeting natural needs, whether physical or emotional, includes a certain amount of pleasure. As we human beings were not made to live alone, we rejoice in contact with friends and loved ones. The need for contact and recognition by others produces sweet sensations.

In balance

But evidently, wisdom lies in balance. Denying the pleasures of life without any noble purpose, should not be commended.

The mother who deprives herself of bread to feed her children shows signs of selflessness and nobility. But eating less than necessary to maintain physical beauty is not recommended.

The higher goals of existence are incompatible with small earthly joys. Jesus signaled this truth by saying that it is not what comes in, but what comes out of the mouth of the man who contaminates him.

If voluntary deprivation of the goods of life is not good, so is abuse. No one is born to eat, drink, sleep and procreate. Living right does not mean refraining from the joys and satisfactions common to the human condition.

Gluttony causes disease and shortens life. The misused use of genetic forces produces physical and emotional imbalances. Sleeping too much or resting too much is a waste of time. Thus, the important thing is to keep balance in the face of earthly tastes and pleasures. If they are not reprehensible, they are also not the purpose of existence.

Purity does not lie in abstaining from the gifts of life, but in using them with balance and discernment, without harming yourself and others. Wisdom lies in using everything in moderation, without becoming a slave to habits, things or sensations.

Final Thoughts

The purpose of our life on Earth is to promote our own intellectual and moral development. Everyone is reborn to overcome old vices, abandon selfishness, live and love. Do not deviate from that goal by a misunderstanding of life.

In the context of our immortal existence, there is little point in becoming an ascetic. It is unworthy to live like an irrational animal, in the relentless pursuit of pleasures.

Strive to be balanced, kind and supportive. It is very laborious, but it is the goal of your coming to Earth.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on January 13, 2018.

See Also

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

New Year

For most people, the new year is the best moment for big changes. But year after year they fail in finding happiness. Would you know why?

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash

Today is the day that starts a New Year. It's a moment of joy and fellowship. We all want to start another year with renewed hopes.

The pleas, in general, are to have a lot of money in your pocket, health to give and sell. But if we have all this, will we be guaranteed a New Year full of happiness?

If God gives us health, what usually happens is that we try to end it in the name of parties. Be it with excesses in food, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or other drugs no less harmful to health. We do not realize that our health depends on us. If we want a good year, we will have to do our part.

If we stop to analyze what the New Year means, we will notice that nothing changes externally. Everything remains as it was the day before. The sick remain ill, those in prison remain incarcerated, the unhappy remain unhappy, criminals continue to plot their crimes, and so on. It's us, and only us, who can build a better year, since a Happy New Year is built, not wanted.

How to have a happy new year

And how can we have a happy new year? If aim a good year we have to start today. As any investment we will harvest the results (or failures) of the previous years.

We will be able to build a good year if we work diligently in our moral reform, rethinking our values, correcting our mistakes, adjusting the direction of our private road. For example, if we start by changing our misbehaviors, we will certainly have a happier year.

Start thinking a little more about the people who live around you. If you open your eyes you'll see how much pain exists around you. If we work to build a better world, one day we will finally conquer the happiness we aim for.

The path to happiness

There is only one way to reach happiness. And that path was shown by Who really has authority, for having walked it. We know this someone as Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.

In the teaching Love God over all things and others as yourself is the key to true happiness. Jesus places us as a point of reference. That is why he recommends that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Whoever loves is preserving health. Whoever loves himself does not bombard his body with harmful elements, nor the Spirit with anger, envy, jealousy.

Whoever loves God above all things, respects His creation, His laws and their peers because they know that we were all created by Him and that He loves us all.

Do you want a New Year full of happiness? Start by building it yourself.

Conclusion

The new period of time that begins, like so many others that have passed, will be full of opportunities. Whether to use them well or badly depends on each one of us. The river of opportunities passes through its waters without returning in the same circumstances.

Today will soon pass and we will call it yesterday, as tomorrow will soon be today, which will also become yesterday. And, without us realizing it, we will soon be calling this new year the old year.

May we all be able to enjoy the treasure of the minutes in the construction of the happy tomorrow that we desire, because eternity is made up of seconds.

Happy new year! 🙏♥🎉

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on January 1st, 2019.

See Also

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