I’ve always loved disaster movies, and every time I watch one it seems I go into my ‘disaster-preparedness’ mode. It may have started with my obsessive fascination with the tornado scene in my childhood favorite, The Wizard of Oz, (second only to The Sound of Music) or the memories of my mother’s reactions during the Cuban Missile Crisis . . . or it could be a calling I’ve ignored. OK, I’m over-analyzing again, not to mention really veering off topic, but watching the recent documentaries on the 2012 hype, I’m confident it’s all more of the same.
What is the 2012 concern?
In case you haven’t heard the details on what the 2012 hype is all about, and what the newly released movie, 2012 will define for most (unfortunately), here are the basics:
-It all started with the fact that the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012.
-The winter solstice sun will align with the earth, moon and the Milky Way-which supposedly hasn’t happened in 26,000 years.(fact not verified)
These “facts”, along with a myriad of prophecies that could be interpreted many ways, there are more theories materializing daily as to how the world will end on that day. Most of them think it involves the end of the world as we know it.
First of all, as a Christian, the Bible is very specific about no one knowing the exact time of the end of the world. One interesting fact that The History Channel pointed out in their examination of this craze is that 2012 does happen to fall in a time of a heightened solar activity cycle. Solar flares are a real threat to the satellites (communications) and our power grids. (Watch the special to learn the details) Evidently, solar flare activity is much more of a real-time threat than anything.
Of course, it’s only a threat to those completely dependent on electricity. If you are Amish, or live off the grid, it won’t affect you aside from the crazies that might target you in a national disaster. A large part of the problem is that our power grids are so interconnected, if one area goes down, it affects far more than just that area (again, watch the History Channel special-it’s been playing on the History Channel often or watch it in it’s entirety at Google Video). I don’t agree or believe most of what was said, but it’s fascinating and will hold your interest-unless you’re prone to fear.
So, what should we learn, or deduce from all this? I came away with these 4 things:
1. We should be right with God – and no one really knows the length of their days.
2. Spend more time living life-enjoying family, or just enjoying each day as a gift. As the saying goes: “Live every day as your last, but plan as if you will live forever”.
More practically:
3. Get off the grid - it would seem a logical endeavor to create more localized power centers. I’ve read about people that have built mini solar and/or wind “power plants” that can power their own house and several others. I’m really ignorant how all that works, but those of you that live in the country and / or live off the land, seem to be on the right track. If you are at least set up to survive without power, (ok, not such an easy undertaking) you have a better chance. At the very least, we should also all be basically prepared for a local disaster. Having 3 months of food and water on hand is just common sense, with all that has happened in the last few years.
And entrepreneurially:
4. Start an emergency preparedness business or blog! You had to know that was coming . . .
What do you think about all this 2012 stuff? Do you do anything to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies? Like what?
Remember, all comments are entered into a monthly drawing for a free book! So I thought I’d give you something to talk about….>>details
The 2012 thing is interesting, at any rate! I haven’t seen the movie, but a friend has and liked it.
I’ve only read this link 2012 (you may have heard of most of their points already): http://searchwarp.com/swa244426.htm
I’m curious to see what, if anything, happens. Good post. I didn’t know that about the heightened solar activity!
Remember the hype about Y2K? However, being a mom of six (five are at home), I know that it is important to be prepared. My husband works 3o miles away and probably wouldn’t be home for some time.
I have started stock piling food and water. Coffee was the first all important item.
We do have a trailer, so making sure that we have food out there is important as is having the emergency stash.
Coffee is at the top of my list, too!
It’s funny you have this article because just last week I heard a friend mention the 2012 theory for the first time. I was therefore interested in learning more about it. I am really glad that you have the links to watch the show. I love watching shows on the end of the world and signs of the time.
I know me and my family are doing a trial run this year. We decided to rent a mini farm for the school year. We have 6 chickens and 8 cats. We defenitly know we are city folk!!:] We have a lot to learn and I am not sure if we are going to last more than this year. I can say it is a total joy to wake up in the morning with the sun shining on the field and barn behind our house and there is such a peace to be able to look up at the sky at night and see millions of stars and feel so close to God!
sorry I am a little off the subject: What do we do to be prepared? 1st We read the Bible each night as a family to come to know our God and what HE expects of us.
2nd I have printed up some lists that you can get that show how much food storage you would need for the size of family you have, and we are (very slowly) working on adding a few things at a time.
The biggest things we have really learned are the most valuable are #1 Toilet paper
#2 Flour, peanut butter, jam
#3 sugar
#4 powdered milk
#5 Powdered eggs
#4 macaroni
#5 powdered cheddar cheese
#6 oatmeal
and poof, we could live for a very long time!!!
Looks like you’re off to a good start. Regardless, I think everyone should be prepared for short term emergencies at the least! We lost our power for one week in the middle of winter and you just don’t realize how dependent we are on electricity. Thanks for the comment, those princess purses are ADORABLE! I have 3 granddaughters that would love them…wish I didn’t already have their gifts bought already!
We have been checking into solar energy for roughly a yr and as a result my spouse and i finally made the actual investment based primarily on the mix of governtment incentive packages and very cost efficient credit. My spouse and i have actually already been looking into solar power for nearly a couple of years and my partner and i finally made the actual decision based mostly on upon the combination of the governtment incentive packages not to mention seriously inexpensive capital. I genuinely couldn’t believe how cheap everything was not to mention we will have been another solar power home for about a month and everything seem to be like it all is actually working out great. We can also literally observe how much electricity we aer saving each and every day of the week and so it is simply rather remarkable. I alway presumed that solar power was backed simply by a large amount of hoopla however , We may well convey you the fact that the product is undoubtedly the genuine deal. My partner and i wish my partner and i had implemented it many years ago.