I find in my own personal preparedness activites that it is important to remember that preparedness is a lifestyle … not a one-time event.
For some people, to hear the term “preparedness” causes them to think of Hurricane Katrina and the immense suffering of those caught in the hurricane’s path.
For others,
Still for others, preparedness is simply being wise and prudent in daily lifestyle choices.
All of the above are accurate interpretations. And all of the above require the understanding that, again, preparedness is not a one-time event … it is a lifestyle.
This means that we are continually looking for ways to be prepared. It’s kind of like the scouting motto, isn’t it. And this kind of mentality is soothing. It can calm even the most troubled of hearts when a person lives after such a manner.
Whether in the category of community awareness (i.e. what kinds of emergencies can hit your area), to education awareness (i.e. is your resume up-to-date or do you need an additional certification class), to physical preparedness (i.e. are your health exams up-to-date), all of these activities create a sound and calm lifestyle.
And it need not be overwhelming. In fact, each day if you become habitually aware of the current “preparedness factor” in your life, you can make little changes over time to get your family ready for most possible eventualities.
For example, the economy is struggling currently in many areas. What can you do to help your family for possible impacts? Perhaps by cutting back 10% on small miscellaneous expenses, you can add to a savings account little by little. Then if your employer (avoiding laying off people) decides to cut salaries by a percentage to stay in business, you’d be prepared with an additional cushion in the bank.
It’s these kinds of small, incremental actions that can help you prepare in many ways – yet with relatively little impact.
Another example – let’s say you’re at a large warehouse grocery store and decide to pick up a couple of 25-pound bags of inexpensive rice and beans. Not a problem at less than $10 for each. It’s an easy way to increase your food storage. But do you know how to cook them?
The answer is easy and is a perfect example of a preparedness lifestyle. You simply get on the internet, download three different beans and rice dishes and have a taste-testing night for the family. They can vote and award the best tasting dish with a homemade ribbon. This puts them in charge and helps them in a zany way to learn to eat more wholesome foods (which, by the way, store far better in a “prepared” household than lots of frozen TV dinners!).
There are many ways you can help your family live after a prepared way. The scriptures teach us that in the last days before Christ’s coming that things will become difficult and challenging for those who are not ready (the book of Zephaniah found towards the end of the Old Testament is just one example). But hopefully not for you, for your loved ones, nor for your friends. Why? Because you’ve learned that preparedness is not a one-time event … it’s a lifestyle!
