Love Your Enemies

By Vera Lúcia Marinzeck de Carvalho, By the Spirit António Carlos and Nancy Sanchez Marcos

This book, psychographed by Vera Lúcia, shows us once again that forgiveness is essential for our spiritual growth, the main objective of our time on Earth.
Noel, a resident of a small island in the north of the country, always helped the inhabitants of the neighboring regions and one day he was forced to return to reality and to the life that he had abandoned many years before. He begins a succession of reunions, pardons and rescues. The businessman Noel is betrayed by his wife. This love triangle will reproduce scenes from the past. After his young disincarnation, Noel lives a new life in spirituality and is surprised to discover who his ex-wife's love was on Earth.
Nadia, Luciana, Dárcio, Carlos and Gabriel, along with Noel, teach us that forgiveness is necessary for spiritual evolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: World Spiritist Institute
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215949399

Book preview

THE ISLE

– Tortugo, where is Ruga? – asked Noel, rubbing the head of one of his turtles. – You like cuddling, don’t you?

Noel smiled; he was different to the other residents of the region. Blond, blue eyes, long beard, tall, strong, and the neighbors considered him wise since they just have the basic knowledge and studies. Although he was not very sociable, everyone loved him because he was always helping with some advices and solving those people’s problems.

He took a leaf lettuce to give it to the little animal. Two beautiful turtles lived with him on the isle.

– Eat up, Tortugo! Are you a real man? If not, my apologies, I did not mean to offend you. Mane told so. When I go back to the civilization, I will search if your characteristics are masculine. It does not matter the way I call you, right, buddy? You do not understand, it is what it is.

He held the leaf, and the turtle ate slowly. And then Noel felt that soft invisible little hand on his hand again.

– Gabriel? Is it you, son? Do you want me to decide? Do you want me to go back and confront life? You are right, I ran away for such a long time. I must go back!

He walked along the seaside and looked at the horizon. It was almost sunrise and Noel was never tired of looking at the sky.

– Nature is so beautiful! There is no color more beautiful than the blue of the sky! – he smiled – I should not talk or laugh anymore. It will be weird for them to see me go back.

The isle was small, fluvial, and the river that surrounded it was huge, with lots of clean water and many fish. The trees were stunning, the native forest bordered the river. Noel loved admiring it and so did the wild animals. There were many snakes in the region, therefore he learned very quickly how to distinguish the venomous ones and to recognize the different fishes. He fished very often, just when he really wanted to eat them.

– I learned how to cook; I can cook fish in different ways. But I will not cook there, I will not have time! – he stuttered.

The isle was right in the middle of the river, it had some native trees and other fruit trees. On a dense jequitibá, he put up a swing, he loved swinging.

It’s good to enjoy nature, but a lot of people abuse it., he thought.

He had lived there for almost five years; he loved that place. He had everything he needed. A one-room house, a firewood kitchen, a lamp, a bed, and some books.

He had gone there to take care of the garden; he planted some trees and a lot of vegetables. He took his sustenance from the river and the garden. Every six months, he received an envelope with some money, and bought coffee, sugar and some clothes. It arrived by mail, which was delivered to the fishermen of the town at the other side of the river, on the right seaside.

– Noel! Noel!

He heard him call, dropped the hoe, walked to the bank and saw Severino, a fisherman who lived in the town.

– Noel, I came to tell you that the manila envelope has arrived, and also to check if you can get me a lemon balm. Rosa, my wife, wants to make some tea. Can I have some tomatoes?

– You need to plant, Severino! It is pretty easy and nice to take care of a garden! I will get what you ask for and thanks for the notice.

The envelope was Dárcio’s letter, for sure he has sent what he asked for. Severino took the herb and the tomatoes, thanked him, and left. Noel thought:

"I do not have to postpone it anymore. Today I will get the envelope. I am sorry to leave everything, or well, I think I am afraid. That’s it, I am afraid. It is so comfortable here. Is it cowardice or comfort the reason I run away from my problems?

There, he found peace and tried to solve other people’s problems, he didn't have them on that isle. Since he did not see them, he felt like he did not have them.

I will finish this and then go to the town.

Half an hour later, he took his canoe and paddled slowly on his way to the other side. The town was not far away, it took him thirty minutes to get there when he paddled faster, but Noel liked to go slowly enjoying the waters, the fish, the shores. To get to the town, he had to paddle against the current, but the river was calmed, so the waters take him slowly. On the way back, Noel used to lie down in the canoe and look up, watching the birds, the clouds, meanwhile the canoe would slowly go down the river.

– How great is not to be in a hurry! – he always exclaimed. When he arrived, he liked his canoe instantly, bought it and repaired it many times and painted it red and blue.

The isle could not be seen from the town, the town was small, with two dusty streets, simple houses, almost all the residents were black, they always enjoyed the sun, there, it was summer all year round.

When he arrived, everyone greeted him gaily, and the children surrounded him.

– Noel, good to see you! – Marquitos said, a smart boy who always visited him.

Everyone called him by his name only. As soon as he met them, he asked them not to call him Sir. He was tired of this treatment and now he would probably have to heard it again.

– Noel, can you please come see Neuziña? She has a stomachache – Jovino said.

He was not a doctor, but his little knowledge in this area was huge compared to theirs. There were no doctors or hospitals, only in the nearest town, which was distant. There, people used mostly herbal teas, home remedies. Noel did not refuse to help anyone, he always tried to help; but when he noticed it could be something more serious, he guided and helped them to get to the city.

– What about Neuziña? Where does it hurt? – he asked.

– Here, Santa Claus! – the little girl answered.

Noel smiled, he heard that since he was a kid. He used to get upset as a child, and as a teenager he wanted to change his name, but then he got used to it. His mother comforted him by telling him he was named after a famous composer, Noel Rosa. But that did not comfort him that much, he did not like his name.

He agreed with the little girl, he actually looked like Santa Claus because of the long blond beard, but with no children. He had Gabriel, but he was gone so soon. He remembered him a lot, he always remembered one day his son sat on his lap and said:

Daddy, you have Santa Claus’ name. And to be like him, all you need is a beard.

Now that phrase will not be necessary, he does have a beard. Is that the reason he let it grow? Or is it because he does not like shaving? Or is it comfort? Or is it to look like the famous and legendary old man?

One more time, he felt the little hand, that soft, warm, gentle hand touching his hand, which he passed over the girl’s belly.

– Give her some tea for the worms! Neuziña, you are going to feel better! – he exclaimed.

They trusted what he said and the little girl will be as healthy as ever. He smiled gratefully. Then, he went to Mr. Benedito’s house, who was the leader of the town, he took the envelope and went back to the isle. Everyone seemed curious and eager to know what he received periodically, but as he did not respond, they did not ask him anymore.

When he tried to disappear and get away from the city, he did the same. He consulted Brazil’s map. It was a huge country, too many rivers, he pointed out one, saw it had some isles and decided to go to one of them. He only took with him what he thought it was essential, some money, and left. At first, the riverside population looked at him with distrust; but eventually he was accepted and now they were friends. He did not open the envelope, he came to the isle and left it on the bed. He prepared his lunch and only after eating he opened the letter. It was Dárcio, his dear friend and the only person who knew where he was.

There was the money he asked for and a message:

Noel, I was very happy with the news of your return. I really want to give you your stuff, so I can devote myself to politics. It will be a pleasure to have you back with us. Come as soon as possible. Hugs, Dárcio.

He looked at the money.

– What a thing! It changed again! I do not know this bill! But I think it is more than enough.

The parrots were making noise, Noel got up and went to give them some corn. Many birds came to the isle accustomed to receiving food and he had a couple or turtles. He fooled himself that they belonged to him; they were just residents, the animals there were free. He gave a loving look to everything and said goodbye. He decided to lie down for a bit and go to the town the following day so he could tell everyone he was leaving. He felt the presence of his son.

I am doing what you wanted! Will I feel you there, my boy?

Yes, my father, I won’t leave you!

He felt the response and a kiss on his cheek. He sighed with a deep sense of peace.

– What am I going to bring with me? – he asked himself and answered: – A change of clothes, the rest I will give to the people of the town. I will take these books! They are my wealth!

There were nine books that changed his mindset. He clearly remembered the day he received the books; it was an afternoon when there was a strong storm, a big boat got lost with some tourists and he received them on the isle. There were three men who went out fishing. They left the hotel and did not know how to go back, so Noel gave them food and stayed talking, they were surprised to find a knowledgeable person there alone. The storm passed and Noel offered to guide them to the hotel.

I will go with you in the boat, tie up my canoe, take you there and come back.

I will accept, if I do not come back today, my family who had stayed at the hotel will be terrified , said one of them.

When they arrived at the hotel, they wanted to do him a favor. Noel refused. Then, one of the men gave him a package, he thought it was clothes, which he was going to refuse, when the contestant said:

There are books, you will enjoy reading them. They have changed my life for better, so I think they will help you too.

He liked reading but he had not read anything for a while. Sometimes he read some news from the town newspapers because people asked him to explain it. And because of them, I had the impression humanity was getting more and more confused. He arrived on the isle at night. The following day, as soon as it was clear, he picked up the books and examined them. They belonged to a French writer, Allan Kardec, his collection and two other studies about spiritualism. Noel began to read. After reading them, he reread them again to study them. Then, he started seeing the facts in a different way, life in a different way.

One night, he dreamed of his son Gabriel, who had passed away. He kissed him, hugged him, and said:

Daddy, I love you!

I love you too! – he replied.

Love your enemies! – his son exclaimed.

He woke up and was sure he had seen his son. So, he started to feel him. He heard his little voice, felt his hand.

One afternoon, the sun was very bright. Noel lay down for a while, prayed and his spirit left his body. He was surprised, but when he saw his son, he was reassured. He stood up and looked at his lying body. He looked strange, he was thirty years old and seemed to be older with that beard on his chest. He looked at Gabriel, he was as if he had disembodied, rosy, blue eyes, red lips, smiled warmly and said:

Hey dad!

Did you do this? – Noel asked.

I helped you. You left your conscious body.

Is this a dream?

It’s not a dream. We are spirits and wear some clothes. I mean, my spirit covers the perispirit, a copy of the physical body that I used, I live like this, because I am disincarnated. You have pulled your perispirit away from your carnal body that lies there. Do you see this wire? It is united to it, in other words, it is incarnated. We always meet and talk, when your body sleeps, and you remember it as a dream. Thus, leaving you conscious, you will remember our conversation and you will be able to meditate on what we talked about.

I read about it, but the feeling is different. We are the same and I want to give you a hug. Feel it!

They hugged affectionately.

Dad, I want to talk to you. The body’s death does not end with us. We are still alive, with our humanity and our feelings. I still love you. It was kind of you to receive those books, to talk to me and not to be afraid, said Gabriel.

Do you want to ask me something?, asked Noel.

How do you know that?

Every time you wanted to ask me for something, you put your hands behind your back.

Gabriel laughed. He was a child of unusual beauty if we talk about the physical appearance, but he was still handsome because he was so balanced and harmonized. Then he responded calmly.

Daddy, I want you to come back! You have to take care of what God has trusted you with.

"Isn’t