Life is not quite so happy these past hours. I can’t seem to find freedom of thought as I move in my safe world (for the now), watching those caught in the rubble. The tall buildings keep tumbling to the ground…

No one was prepared for this, the news of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria… for the devastation, for the screams. For the loss of life. Is anyone ever prepared for sudden, surprising destruction? I watch the screen in unbelief, crying as I focus on the faces.

We have learned how to prepare for the forecast of possible snow accumulation, racing to join our neighbors in the long waiting lines at the grocery stores, shoving to make sure we get enough milk and bread. We prepare as best we can for power outages, and pray we won’t be without light and heat very long.

The TV screen suddenly went black this Christmas Eve; the room was darkened somewhat. It took a moment for me to realize the power had, indeed, vanished, as candles were still burning, and soft light permeated the room. How could that be? The nearby lamp held a battery powered bulb that would continue to give light for hours, even without electricity.

We were prepared for that event.

According to BBC news, the epicenter and surrounding areas where the earthquake struck were not accustomed to these tremors: “This was a region where there had not been a major earthquake for more than 200 years or any warning signs, so the level of preparedness would be less than for a region which was more used to dealing with tremors.”

Can one prepare for circumstances that can suddenly change life forever?  Can we even begin to understand any possible course of preparedness caused by ongoing motion and movements of the tectonic plates?

I think not.

Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Im (father holding the hand of his dead daughter)

“Be prepared” has been circling in my thoughts for two weeks now; I have no idea where it came from and if there is a preparatory warning here for me. I have not posted a blog, as I just couldn’t understand the quiet admonition.  I Googled the 1908 Boy Scout motto to discover it means: “You are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.”

Be prepared…

I choose to believe there is one way to prepare for the future… to be ready for life. Only one. I trust that God loved me enough to have sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to die and pay the price for my wrongdoings that I might always be prepared for life… and death (John 3:16).

He loves you, too, that much. Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

“He chose me… He chose you, actually picked us out for Himself as His own, in Christ before the foundation of the world…  that we would be His… ” (Ephesians 1:4).

We lost a sweet friend in death last week… she was prepared. I have a younger brother battling a terminal illness; he is prepared. A very classy elderly gentleman in Austria is preparing for his last days.

We can carry umbrellas; we can order home generators; our pantry can be stocked; we can keep a source of fuel available for our automobiles, but does that assure we will be prepared… always?

Thankfully, the entire world is racing to intercede with blankets, food and water… helping to prepare the thousands of victims for the next days and months.

Oh, I sincerely hope you are prepared…

“For what good is it for a man (or woman) to gain the whole world (to survive the floods, the fires, the tragedies) and lose his own soul (life) Mark 8:36 italics mine.