"Be Prepared" seems to be the common phrase being broadcast by several organizations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, state emergency authorities, church and civic groups have counseled to become better prepared. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters claim hundreds even thousands of lives every year. Each of these are unforeseen events which cannot be prevented. But they are all events that must be dealt with.
These disasters seem to have become so common that many who hear of them are no longer stirred by there occurrences, that is of course, until it hits closer to home. What are we doing to become better prepared for the natural disasters of our daily lives? Even in a world of comfort and convenience, each day can present different types of unforeseen events. It could be a flat tire on the way to work, a washing machine that suddenly ceases to operate, the unexpected loss of a job, or worse yet, a devastating calamity. Such as the explosion at the World Trade Center in New York, the Mid-west floods of 1993, the earthquakes in Oakland and in San Fernando in January of 1994. Or the freezing temperatures that left several dead in the eastern United States in 1994.
No matter what the circumstances might be or how inconvenient it may seem our method of dealing with unexpected disasters may very well determine the final effect. The determining factor through it all rests upon our " Attitude".
Imagine for a moment that you have suddenly become the sole survivor of an airline accident. You find yourself surrounded by sagebrush and cactus in a vast terrain. There is no visible water or anything that looks like shelter for what might be miles. There is only one of two attitudes to adopt. One being "I can't make it through this, I'm thirsty, it's hot, I'll never survive this". Or, "I am going to make it, no matter what it takes, I will live through this".
Obviously, with the first attitude one would likely perish. Our daily lives may not be as life threatening as the above scenario. However, if we continue to choose the "I can't make it" attitude we will most likely lead ourselves into a premature death. If not a physical death, them possibly an emotional or even spiritual malady.
We must become better prepared to meet the challenges of our daily lives. If not then how can we possibly deal with a potentially dangerous situation? We must prepare ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in order to respond with confidence and skill to all unforeseen events. To be empowered with skills and knowledge that bring about self-reliance, is to be empowered with the gift of life.