Xumene

Bordeaux, 1862. Xumène was a spirit brought by the medium’s guide for instruction and reform. He came in hardened, suffering deeply but resisting change.

The medium’s hand begins writing...

AllanWho are you? Is this the name of a man or a woman?

XumèneA man, and a truly miserable one. I am going through all the torments of hell.

AllanHell does not exist. How then can you be going through its torments?

XumèneA useless question.

AllanIf I understand what you mean, explaining your words may help other people.

XumèneI do not care about them.

AllanIs selfishness one of the causes of your suffering?

XumènePerhaps.

AllanIf you want relief from your misery, you must begin by getting rid of your evil tendencies.

XumèneDo not trouble yourself about them. They are none of your business. Begin by praying for me, as you do for the others. We will see about the rest later.

AllanIf you do not help me through repentance, prayer will help you very little.

XumèneIf you speak instead of praying, you will do very little to help me advance.

AllanDo you truly want to advance?

XumènePerhaps I do. I do not know. Let me see whether prayer relieves suffering. That is the important thing.

AllanThen join your thought with mine, with a firm will to obtain relief.

XumèneGo on.

After the medium prayed, he questioned the spirit again.

AllanAre you satisfied?

XumèneNot as I want to be.

AllanA remedy cannot cure a long illness the first time it is used.

XumèneMaybe so.

AllanWould you like to come again?

XumèneYes, if you call me.

Mediums’ GuideYou will have a great deal of trouble with this hardened spirit, but there would be little credit in saving those who are not lost.

Mediums’ GuideCourage. Persevere, and you will succeed.

Mediums’ GuideNo one is so bad that they cannot be brought back to the right road by persuasion and example. Even the most stubborn must eventually improve with time.

Mediums’ GuideIf you do not succeed at once in bringing them to better feelings, and that is often impossible, your work is never wasted.

Mediums’ GuideThe ideas you plant stir their minds and make them reflect in spite of themselves. They are seeds that will grow and bear fruit sooner or later. A rock is not broken by the first blow of a pickaxe.

Mediums’ GuideWhat I have just said is also true of spirits born on Earth. It explains why Spiritism, even among firm believers, does not make people perfect all at once.

Mediums’ GuideBelief is the first step. Living according to that belief comes next. Then character is transformed in its turn. In many cases, even believers only complete that change after returning to the spirit world again.

Mediums’ GuideAmong stubborn spirits, not all are completely corrupt or actively wicked. Many simply lag behind through pride, indifference, or apathy.

Mediums’ GuideThey are still unhappy. In fact, they suffer all the more from their inertia because they no longer have the interests of life on Earth.

Mediums’ GuideThe prospect of endless existence makes their condition unbearable, and yet they have neither the strength nor the will to change it.

Mediums’ GuideThese are the spirits who, when born on Earth, live idle and aimless lives, useless to themselves and to others. They often end in suicide without any serious reason, simply from weariness and disgust with life.

Mediums’ GuideSpirits of this kind are usually harder to bring back to progress than those who are openly and actively bad, because the actively bad at least have energy.

Mediums’ GuideOnce they see the truth, they may pursue goodness as eagerly as they once pursued evil.

Mediums’ GuideInactive spirits will likely need many lives before they make visible progress. But little by little, beaten by weariness as others are beaten by suffering, they will begin to seek interest in useful activity, and in time that activity will become a necessity for them.