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

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We discovered 48 Days in their early years as a result of a Dave Ramsey consult. Shortly after our personal disaster (which God worked out for good), we were encouraged by the Ramsey Group to take a look at what Dan Miller offered and well… as they say, ‘The rest is history!’ I fell in love with what they were doing and wanted to do something similar, to help others like ourselves that wanted to work at home. The seed for our Homeschool-Entrepreneur.com vision was born, but did not take form for many years later.

I have read almost every newsletter Dan Miller has sent out for the last 6+ years. It’s always been brief (who has time for a long newsletter?), encouraging, uplifting, and I have printed out and saved several for the impact it had. I promise, you’ll love it. Sign up for the newsletter at 48days.com. I also highly recommend his Personality Profile for your graduating junior or senior.

Here’s a story that came from this week’s newsletter, for all the millions of people that have suffered disaster-because…’what the enemy intended for evil, the Lord works out for His good‘:

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Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, because he owned a beautiful white horse. People offered fabulous prices for the horse, but the old man always refused. “This horse is a friend, not a possession,” he would respond.

One morning the horse was not in the stable. All the villagers said, “You old fool. We told you someone would steal that beautiful horse. You could at least have gotten the money. Now the horse is gone, and you’ve been cursed with misfortune.”

The old man responded, “Perhaps. All I know is that my horse is gone; the rest I do not know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can’t say.”

After fifteen days the horse returned. He hadn’t been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses back with him. Once again the village people gathered around the old man and said, “You were right – what we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us.” The old man responded, “Perhaps. Once again you’ve gone too far. How do you know if this is a blessing or a curse? Unless you can see the whole story, how can you judge?” But the people could only see the obvious. The old man now had twelve additional horses that could be broken and sold for a great deal of money.

The old man had a son, an only son. He began to break the wild horses. Unfortunately, after just a few days, he fell from a horse and broke both his legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and said, “You were right. The wild horses were not a blessing; they were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs and now in your old age you have no one to help you. You are poorer than ever.” But the old man said, “Perhaps. Don’t go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. We have only a fragment of the whole story.”

It so happened that a few weeks later the country went to war with a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he had two broken legs. Once again the people gathered around, crying because there was little chance their sons would return. “You were right, old man. Your son’s accident was a blessing. Our sons are gone forever.”

The old man spoke again. “You people are always quick to jump to conclusions. Only God knows the final story.”

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And so it is with our lives. What we see as a blessing or a curse may simply be part of God’s preparation for what lies ahead. Be careful in seeing “disaster” in any change. Just recognize it as change – which opens the door for good as well as bad – for gain as well as possible loss. (comment is from Dan Miller)

Be blessed. Bob & Debbie, Homeschool-Entrepreneur.com

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