Live what we learn, it is the big challenge
 
The late writer and speaker Sérgio Lourenço understood that we should always do, before inviting any speaker to speak at spirit events we promote, to know first what he has done, what his works are, what contribution he has made to the progress of his community, and not just his talent in the field of oratory. In short, if the speaker really experiences what he says, what he teaches, what he proposes in his speech.
This is also, in other words, the thought of confrere André Luis Chiarini Villar, from Itapira (SP in the interview we published in this edition.
Experiencing what we learn in the lessons of the Gospel and in the spirit doctrine is, in truth, a great challenge for all of us.
Life is full of situations in which, as we know, we face difficulties that already created problems in the past, in the face of our own imperfections.
In the chapter of temptations, the explanation given by Emmanuel in chap. 88 of his book Religion of the Spirits: "We are tempted in our imperfections," a phrase which confirms what James wrote in his well-known epistle: "... every man is tempted when drawn and enticed by his own lusts" (Epistle of James, 1:14).
The assertion of James received from Emmanuel the following comment: "Let us examine in particular both the nouns temptation and concupiscence. The first exteriorizes the second, which constitutes the vicious and perverse background of primitive human nature. To be tempted is to hear one's own malice, it is to home the inferior alvidres of itself, because, although the evil comes from the outside, it only materializes and perseveres if with it we refine, in the intimacy of the heart". (Way, Truth and Life, chapter CXXIX.) [We wrote in bold]
It was no other reason why Allan Kardec said that true purity is not only in acts. It is also in the mind, for who has pure heart does not even think of evil. This is what Jesus meant by condemning sin even in thought, that is, even though it was not fulfilled.
Not experiencing what we read, study or teach thus constitutes unequivocal proof of our soul's imperfection, to demand a special effort to overcome it and to advance in the path of perfection that awaits us all.
The tendencies we bring from the past influence our conduct in the most different aspects of our performance in the world, and not only in matters of lust or sensuality.
Cupidity, pride, laziness, anger - terms that identify in the Church's vision some of the so-called seven deadly sins - are enemies of the soul that must be faced and overcome, which becomes feasible as we move forward in the spiritual life, clarifying and stripping us of our imperfections little by little, according to the greater or lesser goodwill that we demonstrate in the exercise of our free will.
We read in one of the main spirit works:
"Every evil thought results from the imperfection of the soul; but, according to the desire that feeds itself to purify itself, even this bad thought becomes an opportunity for him to advance, because he repels it with energy. It is an indication of an effort to erase a stain. He will not give in if he presents an opportunity to satisfy a bad desire. Once you have resisted, you will feel stronger and happier with your victory.
That who, on the contrary, has not made good resolutions, seeks an opportunity to practice the bad act and, if he/she does not do it, it is not by virtue of his/her will but by lack of opportunity. It is, therefore, as guilty as it would be if it did.
In short, in one who does not even conceive the idea of ​​evil, there is already progress made; in the one to whom this idea comes, but who repels it, there is progress in the process of being realized; in that, finally, who thinks of evil and in that thought is pleased, evil still exists in the fullness of its force. In one, the work is done; in the other, it is yet to be done.
God, who is just, takes into account all these gradations in the responsibility of the acts and thoughts of man." (The Gospel According to Spiritism, Chapter VIII, item 7.)