Disasters

I admit to my fears sometimes. I mean, I admit them to myself all the time, but rarely outside of my comfort zone. Natural disasters are horrific. As much as I enjoy watching the occasional storm, gazing at lightning crossing the sky and waiting for the roaring thunder that follows, I feel like returning to the womb front a possible flood, fire, hurricane or tornado. With all that I know and believe in, I am all human when it comes to being afraid of dying in pain or suffering. As a matter of fact, the best thing and yet the most boring aspect of growing older is, in my case, taking more precautions in everything. Swimming in deep waters? Not anymore, thank you. There might be sharks. Drive my car holding a sandwich in one hand, my phone between my shoulder and ear while trying to take note of something on some random piece of paper? Um - no. Go bungee-jumping? Heck, no! My MVP condition may turn into a cardiac arrest and than its me DOA at the hospital. Delusional? Exaggeration? Maybe, but I'm not taking the risk. In other words, I meet the requirements for SELF-PRESERVATION.

Still in the matter of being human and all, the most respected medium of all times, Francisco Candido Xavier, had a near encounter with disaster once. He was on a plane going I remember not where to do something that is not really important for this matter. There was turbulence during some twenty minutes which got worse and worse, and most people starting crying and shouting. He felt no different from others who panicked, and one priest recognized him "There's Chico Xavier", to which he replied in frantic fear, "Thank Goodness, Father. Let's pray together. Help! Help! God Almighty save us!" He reports that suddenly he sees Emmanuel, his spiritual guide, calmly walking up to him from the corridor:

"What seems to be the matter, Chico?"
"We are in danger!"
"Yes, you all are. So?"
"We can all die!"
"And? There's no one with priviliges around here", Emmanuel replied, annoyed. "If you have to die, at least do it politely."
"If I'm going to die, I'm going to die screaming. Help! Oh, Lord!"

Chico would later tell this story in good heart and laughter. As he said afterwards, "How can one die politely?"

This being said, The Spirits' Book tells us that destruction gives way to renewal and regeneration, as Providence uses all beings as instruments for attaining its purpose, just like the food chain where the nourishment of some beings depend on the destruction of others. Its objective is to maintain balance in the population of a species and to transform matter. What dies is merely the physical envelope, an accessory to the spirit. The spirit, the essential thinking principle is indestructible. Questions 729 through 733 from the above mentioned book gives us some insight:

729. If destruction is necessary for transformation, why does Nature instill species with the self-preservation instinct?

"This is to prevent premature destruction, which would impede the development of the intelligent principle. This is also why God gave the instinct to live and to reproduce each being."

730. Since death will lead us to a better life and liberate us from the evils of the world, it is something we should desire more than fear. Why does each of us, then, feel such instinctive horror and apprehension when facing it?

" We have already told you. Humans must seek to prolong their lives in order to fulfill their tasks. It was for this reason that God gave you the instinct of self-preservation, which sustains you during your trials. Without it you would frequently fall into despair. But the secret voice that makes you reject death also tells you that you can do something to improve your lot. Every brush with death is a call for you to spend your time more usefully. But the ungrateful, instead of thanking God for this warning, bless their lucky star that they have escaped."

731. Why, along with the means of preservation, did Nature simultaneously place the means of destruction in our path?

"The medicine comes with the sickness. As we previously told you, destruction is designed to establish balance, to maintain an equilibrium in nature."

732. Is the need for destruction the same on all planets?

" It exists in proportion to the materiality of each planet. As inhabitants reach more refined physical and spiritual states, it disappears. On more advanced planets, living conditions are quite different from yours."

733. Will the need for destruction always exist among us on Earth?

" It will diminish as the spirit gains mastery over matter. This is why the horror at destruction grows with intellectual and moral development".

The questions and explanations continue on the fairness of both the good and evil perishing at the same time in natural calamities, the killing of animals and so on. Something I will gladly explore later on. The good part is that my instincts for survival, my being cautious (not to say a chicken), absolute horror at unecessary violence and blood shedding mean I am advancing. Yes!