Day 2 – National Preparedness Month – Spiritual Preparedness
While I was in High School a small tornado came through where I lived. I vividly remember riding a quiet(er) bus home looking out the window and seeing the evidence of where it had hopped until it had finally vanished it had dissolved. A few blocks from our home, where a small construction boom was happening, there was a slab of cement with a twisted knot of metal on top. This had been the site of their “pilot” steel framed house –reported to be stronger than the usual wood frame. I recall chuckling and thinking “ Didn’t really work now did it.”
I have since learned more about construction and architecture and stand corrected. The company’s claim was true, steel is stronger than wood. However a house requires more to become a stable shelter than a strong foundation and steel framing. Trusses, beams, exterior and interior walls, etc all work together to create a structure that can withstand the storms. Our high school had also been hit by that tornado and as a completed structure merely lost a few windows. It had weathered the storm to protect its precious cargo.
Most of this month we’ll be focusing on the physical areas of preparedness, but this is not the most important preparation we can make. Spiritual Preparedness is the most vital principle and is what will allow us to weather the storms. All of our physical preparations are steel frames and slabs of cement. And if that is where we focus all of our efforts and neglect to finish our houses by being spiritually prepared – we will survive a disaster but most likely as a mess.
Usually, when listing, the areas of preparedness being spiritually prepared is a category like food storage and 72 hour kits. I’ve realized that our categories are inaccurate. Since I’m a visual person, allow me to demonstrate.
The Usual Approach to Emergency Preparedness
72 hour kits (bug-out kit)
Food storage
Financial preparedness
First aid and medical
Spiritual Preparedness
Evacuation and emergency plan
A New Approach to Emergency Preparedness
|
Spiritual
|
Physical
|
|
Scripture Study
|
72 hour kits
|
|
Prayer
|
Financial
|
|
Tithing
|
Food storage
|
|
Change of heart
|
Planning
|
I’ve realized that spiritual preparedness isn’t a category; it’s a completely seperate aspect of preparedness with many facets. President Henry B Erying, First Counselor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in his talk Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Ready divides spiritual preparedness into the above four categories (October 2005 General Conference). Obviously there are more aspects than just these four but hands down, these are the most important.
Just as during the week we will focus on the physical facets of preparedness, every Sabbath (Saturday) we will feature a spiritual facet. We face far more spiritual storms and disasters (most man made) than we ever will of the physical variety. Statistics show an increase in both spiritual (divorce, addiction, bankruptcy, crime, etc) and physical storms and disasters over the past decade in intensity and frequency; a trend that is increasing exponentially. The goal was not for us to survive on this earth and then return home like a strange reality show. We were sent here to endure and overcome the spiritual storms and to return triumphantly.
“So, the greatest test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God’s commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return to our heavenly home.” (President Henry B Erying, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady, October 2005 General Conference)
Our loving Heavenly Father has provided all the materials for us to return to Him; the Atonement of Our Savior, the Holy Ghost, Prophets, church leaders, prayer, scriptures, and temples. We have more in our days to assist us than in all the generations before us together. We must simply CHOOSE to be quick and steady in using them.
“What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which everything for us in eternity depends. That test is part of the purpose God had for us in the Creation…
“We would be subject to temptations through the desires and weaknesses that came with out mortal bodies. Subtle and powerful forces of evil would tempt us to surrender to those temptations. Life would have storms in which we would have to make choices using faith in things we could not see with our natural eyes.” (President Henry B Erying, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady, October 2005 General Conference)
Just as you would be remiss to neglect your food storage or miss updating your 72 hour kits, why would you neglect the spiritual preparations that will maintain your mental and emotional well being and faith in times of distress?
Today’s Challenge: Good: Read the Talk by President Henry B. Erying, Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady, October 2005 General Conference. Pray about spiritual preparations for you and your family.
Better: Just as you would inventory your food storage, kits, and finances, make an inventory of your spiritual preparations (personal and family).
Do you read your scriptures or uplifting material daily? Twice a day?
How long do you read for?
Do you pray or meditate regularly?
What is your attitude while praying or meditating?
How is your charitable/faith based giving?
Do you atten church or faith promoting activites regularly? What are your typical Sunday activites?
Do you follow your church or spiritual leaders?
Be honest in your evaluations. Pray for guidance as to things you may have missed, and discuss this as a family.
Best: Look at your above inventory, pray and ponder where you really need to focus your efforts to improve or start. Make a plan for improvement, and set a date for weekly evaluation on your efforts.
Preparedness Mama and its collaborators have created a one-stop shop of critical resources for families looking to prepare for disaster. We know firsthand that getting ready for the worst with a big family poses some particular challenges.
We’ve learned from the past so that you don’t have to make the same mistakes again. Fear of the unknown is one of the scariest things in life, but we hope that Preparedness Mama’s treasure trove of practical advice will make that unknown less daunting and ultimately help take the scared out of being prepared for every single one of our readers.
[…] study is all those little nails that hold every piece of your house together (remember that from last week). When you don’t put enough nails into your floor joist they are unable to handle the weight, […]