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For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32)
Over the past few months I have had many opportunities to think about preparedness, with its many facets. While the following examples are by no means the only ones, they highlight a few of the situations that have given me the opportunity to learn about the importance of preparedness.
There are preparations that deal with every-day life—caring for children, preparing meals, doing housework, and going to work. These types of activities are usually repetitive and often considered mundane. Some days I think I am a success simply because I made it out of bed and had a shower! That is all the preparation I can muster on those types of days. I am slowly learning to accept that there are going to be those types of days and it's all right—as long as I move past them eventually and focus positively on doing the best I can and being as prepared as possible each day for the responsibilities I have.
There are other important preparations such as keeping the commandments, spending time together as a family, fulfilling my calling, and serving those in need. I have found that these types of preparation help me look outside myself, move beyond my comfort zone, and focus on the needs of others. This is important in developing compassion and other Christ-like characteristics that aid me in preparing to return to my Father's presence.
These are fairly universal aspects of preparation that are similar for each of us, regardless of our particular conditions. However, there are also more specific, individual situations that teach each of us about the importance of preparation for our own lives and needs. These moments help us realize the ways in which we are already prepared for life's experiences and how we can be better prepared for future situations.
Here are a few of my own personal circumstances that recently have helped me learn the lessons of preparedness:
My oldest son is in the process of submitting his mission “papers,” although it's all electronic now so there are no literal hard copies. Missions include a variety of preparations—filling out forms, medical appointments, interviews with the bishop and stake president, haircuts, etc. There is also the endless shopping for suits, shirts, ties, shoes… (Honestly, this prep we have held off on doing too much yet, as there is no need to buy numerous long-sleeved white shirts if he will be serving in a tropical location and need numerous short-sleeve white shirts!) And, of course, there are the preparatory essentials of desiring to serve and preparing spiritually to do so—which is the beginning point for any mission preparation.
The lady for whom I cared at work passed away after a long battle with colon cancer and a number of strokes and other health issues. Not only have I had the chance to remember how grateful I am to have known her, but I have considered the many things she taught me and the necessity of being prepared to move onto the next life. It is important to develop the qualities we desire to emulate, and to practice those qualities on a regular basis so that they become an innate part of who we are. This is a significant facet of being prepared.
And on Sun Sept 14 we had the storm due to the remnants of Hurricane Ike that has clearly shown us about emergency preparedness, and the ways we were prepared and how we could be better prepared for the next storm. This is physical preparation—flashlights, water, food, grill, money, gasoline, etc.
A friend commented on the analogy between the physical storm with Ike and the spiritual storms we will face in life. Are we prepared for those times of adversity? We have the means at our disposal to be ready to face these times. Our spiritual preparation—scripture study, prayer, church attendance, tithing, testimony, etc.—gives us the boost to face these challenges. It is obviously more complex and difficult to accomplish this preparation in totality than this makes it sound. But we are able to choose how we act and our attitudes towards our experiences, and that affects how well prepared we are to handle life's ups and downs.
O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. (Alma 37:46)
What I have learned is that preparation is more than a physical act. It is more than food storage or being ready for a test at school or having a full tank of gas. Preparation encompasses every aspect of our lives. When we are better prepared, we are more balanced emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Preparation makes it possible to accomplish the various responsibilities we have each day. We tend to feel better about ourselves and our capacity to succeed.
In being prepared, we are following the example of our Savior.
Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. (Ether 3:14)
I am willing to continue to learn life's lessons, as these experiences help me come unto Him and emulate His goodness and mercy. This is my time to prepare and perform to the best of my abilities! I am willing to “look and live.” I want to be prepared to return to His presence and be known as His daughter.
Well-done, insightful, important. Thank you.
Well-written, Michelle! Preparation in so many areas is such an important part of life- “If you are prepared, ye shall not fear.” I do believe, however, that spiritual preparation is far and away the most important preparation we can focus on. A theme of several conversations I have had lately have been along these same lines. As I have said so many times during this past week- if I did not know the ‘Big Picture’ and have an unwaivering testimony in the prophecies of the last days, the current presidential election, coupled with the financial crisis, would scare me to death! I honestly don’t know how people without the knowledge we have are able to handle it.
The truth is that death does NOT scare me, but LIVING under the circumstances that are potentially facing our country WOULD scare me if I didn’t know that it was all a part of God’s plan and that, in the end, righteousness will prevail. We may go through difficult times. Re-phrase that- we WILL go through difficult times, that without His love and guidance could be very painful and difficult to endure. However, knowing the fulness of His plan of happiness; knowing that we have a living prophet on the earth today to guide us and direct our paths; knowing the blessings and rewards that await us if only we can endure it well, puts it all in perspective and makes the difficult times doable. It creates a paradigm shift that can even make the ‘challenges’ seem like blessings. As the wars and calamities continue to increase and envelop the world we live in, we realize that these are the signs of the times and that the Lord’s second coming is getting that much closer. As we contemplate the possibility of certain people becoming President of our country, and see the financial crisis heat up, we realize that this isn’t something we didn’t know would happen, and the fact that it is happening moves us that much closer to a time of peace and joy and righteousness.
Of course- that doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing, or worse, do our part to make it worse! We do all we can to bless the lives of others, to elect good men and women to government office, to make a positive difference in our communities. But most of all, we put our very best efforts into shoring up our spiritual strength and help our children, our loved ones, and those around us to do the same. After all- in the end the only thing that matters is how we choose to respond to the circumstances we face in our lives, no matter how ‘bad’ things get. We know that in order for there to be an adequate sifting and gathering the wheat from the tares, things will get ‘bad’– but it will only be bad for us if we have not built up our spiritual supply and find ourselves on the wrong side of the conflict. Who’s on the Lord’s Side, Who? In the end, if we have not chosen Jesus Christ, it will not matter what we have chosen instead.