Thoughts on Prepping

Photo credit: http://www.scottliddell.net/

More than ever in my lifetime, these are uncertain times.  The news is full of talk of a "fiscal cliff."  Our economy has been struggling since the big 2008 collapse.  Our national debt is growing by the second. The price of gasoline keeps creeping up.  The integrity of the US dollar is being called into question.  As we learn more and more about where things "come from" and everything that has to happen for the industrial supply chain which enables our modern life to function, we realize we have been placing entirely too much faith in it, in our shaky economy, and in our often-times corrupt, not to mention inefficient, government.  This blind faith is perhaps due in large part to ignorance, and perhaps it is also due in part to this feeling of being completely and utterly overwhelmed, preferring to dig our heads in the sand than become one of those extreme, doomsday, hoarding, worry wart "preppers."  But, as anyone who has embarked down the path of real food, alternative health, and natural living will soon realize, the prepper community has a lot of overlap with these pursuits.  It just fits.  If you decide to take your food and health into your own hands, it doesn't take long to realize that, to the extent possible, you should take your self-sufficiency into your own hands as well.  My husband has hopped on board and really taken charge of this area of our life lately.  It has been a tremendous opportunity to bond and plan and dream together.  You know what they say, couples who prep together, stay together!  Okay, maybe I just made that up, but you get the idea...

We now find ourselves asking questions: what if the power goes out, even for just 2 or 3 days?  What if we go to turn on the faucet, and nothing comes out?  What if there's an earthquake?  What if one of us loses a job for an extended period of time (again)?  What if our nation goes through another Great Depression?  What if the rule of law fails?  What if life as we know it drastically changes?  As a believer in Christ, these thoughts are constantly tempered by knowledge of the Lord's grace and provision for us.  But just as I cannot expect a paycheck to come rolling in so I can keep the lights on and the fridge full unless I get up and head to work each day, I cannot expect that God will miraculously provide my needs in the event of a short-term or long-term disaster if I do not make use of the opportunities He has given me now to prepare.  God most certainly can miraculously provide, but His way of providing may be coming in the form of opening my eyes to the fragility of my everyday life and showing me how to prayerfully prepare for what may come.

We have realized that, whether things go south or not, a more self-sufficient lifestyle really appeals to us.  We are a ways off from owning 100 acres in the country and providing all of our own needs (though doesn't that sound nice?).  We are doing what we can within the constraints of our current time, money, and location available to us.  We are starting with the most basic and most likely "disasters": earthquake, short-term utility interruption (power, water, natural gas, sewer...), job loss, etc.  We are seeking to secure provisions to get us through 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, etc.  We are starting small and working our way up.  We are identifying holes in our plans and plugging them, one at a time.  I will be sharing some posts along our journey which may provide some inspiration to you on your own journey.  Maybe I can give you some things to think about.  Maybe I can present things in a way that is a lot less overwhelming.  I think prepping starts in the mind and manifests itself through small changes and choices as time and finances permit.  My desire is to help others make that transition in their mind and share some of the experiences I have which will enable them to make the changes and choices that go along with a new mindset.