Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

244
ALLAN KARDEC
because it was in accordance with the laws of nature that it should do so. The lightning was
not made to fall upon the tree because the man was under it, but the man was inspired with
the idea of taking refuge under a tree upon which the lightning was about to fall; for the tree
would have been struck all the same, whether the man had been under it or not."
528. An ill-intentioned person hurls against some one a projectile which passes close by him,
but does not touch him. Has the missile, in such a case, been turned aside by some friendly
spirit?
"If the individual aimed at were not destined to be struck, a friendly spirit would have
suggested to him the thought of turning aside from the path of the missile, or would have
acted on his enemy's sight in such a way as to make him take a bad aim; for a projectile, when
once impelled on its way, necessarily follows the line of its projection."
529. What is to be thought of the magic bullets which figure in certain legends, and which, by
a mysterious fatality, infallibly reach their mark?
"They are purely imaginary. Man delights in the marvellous, and is not contented with the
marvels of nature."
- May the spirits who direct the events of our lives be thwarted by other spirits who desire to
give to' our lives a different direction?
"What God has willed must needs take place. If delay or hindrance occur, it can only be by
His appointment."
530. Cannot frivolous and mocking spirits give rise to the various little difficulties that defeat
our projects and upset our calculations? In a word, are they not the' authors of what may be
termed the petty troubles of human life?
"Such spirits take pleasure in causing vexations which serve as trials for the exercise of your
patience; but they tire of this game when they see that they do not succeed in ruffling you. But
it would neither be just nor correct to charge them with all your disappointments, the greater
number of which are caused by your own heedlessness. When your crockery is broken, the
breakage is much more likely to have been caused by your own awkwardness than by spiritaction."
- Do the spirits who' bring about petty vexations act from personal animosity, or do they
direct their attacks against the first person who comes handy, without any fixed aim, and
simply to gratify their malice?