probable children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In the end, they would be proud of saying: I was briefly here.
Ten minutes later, they return to the car and restart the journey. The driver increases the speed, for the road becomes better. The last six kilometres were covered in ten minutes. They arrived at Catimbau, a rustic place lost in the Pernanbucan’s wild immensity. The taxi driver drops our friends at the local guides association, where they contract one of them to guide them to the park. We take leave of Fabricio, keeping his phone number to be contacted later.
Once a guide was contracted, and they plan the itinerary and a small truck is rented to take them to a point near the park. Everything is ready. The guide introduces himself as Paulo Lacerda, who also acts as driver, and with the help of the vehicle they surmount the climb’s difficulties. At this moment, the adrenalin is pumping strongly, leaving the tourists in awe even before reaching the ecologic sanctuary.
Arriving at the furthest point the vehicle can reach, they alight and begin the itinerary on foot. They follow a narrow path, full of obstacles to be faced: difficult climbs and descents, thorns and dangerous scabs in that landscape called “chapadão”.
After walking for about two hours, they stop and they start clear the terrain in a clearing they have found. They pitch the tent and rest for a while. A while later, they went to look for firewood in the forest and when they found some, they return and lit a fire. They begin to prepare a simple dinner, onion soup. Directly or indirectly, everybody contributes to the harmonious atmosphere and cooking dinner. When the food is ready, they feed themselves there in the forest without any comfort. It is the price to pay for daring so much. However, nobody complained. Catimbau served a release valve to their personal frustrations, and the break, changed the monotonous routine of most of them. To be there, in the middle of the forest, beside mother nature was better than win a prize. It was a privilege for only a few.
Once dinner is finished, the seer stands up in front of them and starts talking:
—My dear friends, from my life experience, I selected a few important points for discussion at this sanctuary. I have brought you here exactly in view to absorb the so needed knowledge. Everything all right?
—Everything. My experience in life has brought me only chaos. So, it is good to learn. (Tadeu Barbosa)
— Last time, I was the master but now the role is yours. Be at ease. (Messias)
—You are the light’s master. You have got all the attributes to teach. (Emanuel)
—I am a stranger in the nest, but I will pay attention to your teachings. (Paulo Lacerda) —Thank you all. The theme that I want to discuss concerns the family basis. I was born to a humble family, son of farmers and because they were raised in the decade (in the frontier of the Brazilian northeast), they received a rigid upbringing from their parents, including frequent beatings, child labour, poverty and discrimination. They have absorbed these values and acted in same way with me, what caused great frustration, sadness, distance and incomprehension. I don’t find fair this kind of treatment and I have promised myself that I would not perpetuate it in the case I would get married. How was your experience and what do you think about it? (The seer)
—I am a native of Sicily’s region, in Italy, and in my time, the family behaviour was similar to the one you have just described. We were seven siblings and food were scarce. My parents were absent and that caused various twists. Often, the older ones took advantage of the weakness of the younger ones (Hitting them) and our parents didn’t even know or pretended that they did not know. Arriving in Brazil, each one went their own way, my grandparents and my parents died, and we built our own families. Thus, we have prioritized justice, equality and peace among the family members. (Related Messias Escapuleto)
— Thank God, I and my father are happy in our family unit. As he mentioned, in his time, things had a different connotation. However, even nowadays, there are evidence of problematic families. (Emanuel Melkin Escapuleto)
— My father was very strict. I had to start working early and I couldn’t study. I grew without any education eating wood, stone, dust and dragging snakes by the feet. So be happy my friend for the opportunity of having had an education and being the man that you are today. (Observed Paulo Lacerda)
—Paulo is right, Aldivan. My life was much more complicated than yours and even so I survived. So, you should feel blessed. (Tadeu Barbosa)
—I understand you all and I understand myself. Family is the first community in which we participate and in it we learn how to share, to dialogue, to interact with strangers. Nothing occurs without suffering, for there isn’t a perfect family. What I want to pass to you and to the public, is that have the right to choose. We are not our parents nor we should follow their example in everything for they imperfect beings. The one who we must imitate is called Yahweh and his son Jesus Christ who have left their commandments on Earth. Through them, we can reach perfection and obtain the desired results in every field. Blessed be our Father! (Aldivan)
—Amen! (the others)
— Let’s us now talk about modern problems. To you, what is family nowadays and what is its importance according to your experiences? (Aldivan)
—To compare the family of the present with the one of the past it is an impossible task. In the past, children respected and feared their parents more. Nowadays, progress has destroyed the concept of family. (Messias Escapuleto)
—There are also differences between the rural family and city family, besides the diverse social strata. (Observed Emanuel)
—My family is like any other, with problems, misunderstandings and agreements. To be able to handle this it is typical of a conscious citizen of the state of the democratic right. Thank God that I have not followed my parents’ way and nowadays my children can study. (Paulo Lacerda)
— I don’t want to go into that. It is a “Wound scar” that still hurts a lot. (Tadeu Barbosa)
—Why my friend? May I help you? (Seer)
—At this moment, I don’t want to talk about it. I want to know you better and yes, maybe you can help me. (Tadeu)
— I fully understand you. No problem, I will wait for the right time. (Seer)
— Thank you very much. (Tadeu)
—Don’t mention it. Very well. End of the talk. Let’s enjoy the rest of the evening. (The seer)
—OK. (The others)
The night progresses and the cold increases ever more. The scouts gather round the fire to get warm and to talk a bit more. There, in that piece of ground, each one takes advantage of his individuality to absorb the teachings of the mother earth and the son of God. The gravest case was Tadeu’s who was carrying deep ”Wound scars”, which have not healed yet, but he was not the exception. Messias Escapuleto, Emanuel Melkin Escapuleto, Paulo Lacerda and even the master of light himself have all suffered. The difference between them was that the latter, was capable of overcoming it, and go forward with his life. “The seer” was a rare case prepared to teach and to listen to his superiors, subordinates and friends. This was a very important lesson for mankind in general.
Besides the learning and the adventure, the trip was a great opportunity of freedom from life’s monotony. How many times haven’t we got bored or get into a deep depression for the simple fact of a routine repetition? Whenever we reach this point, the best thing to do is to change drastically: Talk, walk, learn new things, watch TV, go to the cinema, read a book, are just a few things
