Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Planning and Prepartion

One of my favorite reads when I was growing was The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Now, I haven't seen the movie, so I don't know if it's any good. And I am quite aware that the religious beliefs of the author, the late Douglas Adams, are fundamentally different from my own. However, one of the key themes of the book is rather on point these days.

The book is about a group of individuals (can't use people, some of them are aliens. Actually, 2 of the 4 are aliens), who are bouncing around the galaxy. One of them, whose name is Ford (this is his writing pseudonym. Upon reaching earth, he determined to take a name to blend in, not realizing that cars aren't the dominant species) is a writer for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, essentially a travel book about, well, the galaxy. The cover of the book has in big words:

DON'T PANIC!

The reason I think this is appropriate these days is that we need to learn to plan, prepare, but even when those things go wrong, DON'T PANIC! There are days that things go horrendously wrong, but panic should never be our response. There are days that it just seems the natural response, but those who are God's children have to learn to listen to His voice rather than that other one in the back of your head that screams 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHH.'

This is not easy. In fact, every time that something goes wrong is a good time to practice this skill! I've been working on it today, since the power is out, half the roads to my house are covered with trees, and the other half with smaller debris. I'm trying to be thankful instead. First, the tree is in the road. Not on my house. Not on anyone's house. Second, there's more than one road. Third, that 360 days a year, I have electricity. Some people get it 2 hours a day. Fourth, I have some place to flee to with power. Finally, I've got insurance if a tree does fall on the house. Why should I panic? God has already provided these things. And if something else goes wrong, He is still with us!

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