The SARS outbreak in China. Hurricane Katrina. The Great Depression. The Gulf War. 9/11. The paralysis of all air traffic as the result of an “minor” volcanic eruption. The Indian Ocean tsunami. The Revolutionary War. The Cuban Missile crisis.  The Haitian earthquake. And dare I mention what I’ve come to label as “The TSA Invasion?” What do all of these things have in common? Well, to me, I think that all of these things are the shadow of more serious things to come.

There’s the saying that “history repeats itself.” While I actually believe that’s accurate on a more compounded basis, I believe that history is simply a sneak peek of what’s to come. To be frank, I believe this more poignantly on a spiritual basis.  I believe that it’s the result of a loving Father in Heaven who has attempted to give us all a dress rehearsal here and there in hopes that we can learn for more serious challenges. But regardless of what your personal belief is in this instance, I certainly hope that we can all agree that there are certainly some key lessons that we can learn from all of these occasions.  Even more importantly, I feel a drive to actually study history to become more aware of lessons learned and not make the same mistakes.  After all, how can we be “prepared for the worst” when we’re somewhat manipulated as to what versions of events we see?  I feel strongly that I have a responsibility to get quality information so that I can see clearly. Allow me to share some examples of what I’m talking about.

Let’s take the SARS outbreak as an example.  Here we were in the U.S. minding our own business and we didn’t even hear anything about SARS until it had impacted over 10% of the Chinese community. Also, the initial news broadcasts didn’t present it at the appropriate level of concern that I personally felt it merited. To give you some perspective on that, understand that it took the Chinese an entire 18 months to eradicate SARS from their country. This means that there were some serious travel and social restrictions that had to be put into play in order to combat this pandemic.  What might have happened if they had actually quarantined everyone to their homes for a few months in order to eliminate the spread of the virus?  Might a watchful authority in our nation be inclined to do just that with the lesson learned that 18 months might be too long to wait for a serious virus to be eliminated?

If we look at all of this as a shadow of something to come, a dress rehearsal if you will, I can appreciate that something very similar could conceivably happen in the future, right in my own backyard.  As a matter of fact, I think that we have even received another shadow dress rehearsal last year with all of the hype about the H1N1 virus. So, what can we assess and learn from this instance?  Well, I believe that we certainly need to be taking the threat of this seriously and there’s no better time to do so than when it’s nowhere near our doorstep—although in reality, there are far too many instances that “sneak up on us.” Regardless, the time to prepare for something like this is before everyone is in a panic, oxygen masks are in scarce supply and particularly before an unknown vaccine is thrust in your direction as the “only answer to the problem.”

I also feel that the slowness of the dissemination of the news in our own corner of the world teaches us that we need to reach out to alternative sources of news in foreign nations who may not have the same motivations to censor such information as our own backyard may, for whatever reason that may be. I think exposing ourselves to international views and information is an ideal situation to be forewarned.

Additionally, I think we also need to establish specific boundaries for ourselves for various scenarios rather than wait until a panic is thrust at us. For example, by the time the so-called authoritative World Health Organization had shared information with the rest of the world about the extent of H1N1 virus infections, it was “already too late” by their own claim, to stop it from spreading further. Now frankly, I personally thought this incident was highly orchestrated, BUT there still is the “dress rehearsal” of the Spanish Flu which spread over multiple continents in a matter of only a handful of months at a time when international travel and shipping was not even available yet.  So the likelihood of this same type of scenario, in which the powers that be take it upon themselves to decide what and when they will disseminate information and what tone that information will take, I think it’s important that we think through scenarios and decide for ourselves what specific series of events will trigger specific action on our part.

Lastly, in light of the vast amount of history which conveys similar events, I feel that it’s imperative that we NOT plan on help or assistance from traditional venues such as local hospitals and emergency services, governmental or law enforcement.  I think that we have ample instances which give us reason to assume that if there’s any event serious enough which will strain these services we must be prepared to be sufficiently self-reliant to ourselves as well as a resource to others. Along this vein I am studying the cause and effect of some of the worst pandemics in history in an effort to prepare for them with effective alternative remedies.  While this may be viewed as “quackery” by medical organizations in my own nation I feel fortunate that 80% of the rest of the world readily accepts, practices, and provides studies from which I can learn and be better prepared.

This same type of thought process is prudent for any of the other scenarios which I mentioned as well as those which have taken place in your family history.  Rather than panic about what I don’t know, I find a great deal of peace in believing that God has provided His children with a shadow of things to come so that I don’t have to be clueless and helpless when events inevitably escalate.


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6 Comments

Deirdre · December 3, 2010 at 4:54 pm

I believe that you are on the right track. Storage of vinegar, bleach, nitrile gloves, face masks as well as duck tape and plastic sheeting (which can be obtained at the local paint supply)is of utmost importance. These items will help prevent the spread of diseases as well as enable families to quarantine their ill.
Just a thought.
Deirdre

Cin · December 4, 2010 at 12:13 pm

It is unfortunate that man has gone against our Creator’s original plan to spread throughout the earth. Although man has indeed spread himself around the world, he has by no means spread himself out. There is enough earth land mass for every man, woman, and child to sustain themselves by means of small homesteading practices, but due to land grabs throughout our history, man has become forced to accept residency in clusters we call boroughs, towns, and cities. Some would not survive now if in fact they did not share such arrangements. Mankind’s greed has increased his necessity to stay in areas of mass population, and even when he has enough to make the changes to move his environment to one of seclusion, he does not do so. This massing effect, forces the unsanitary conditions to spread more rapidly, and in more recent decades transportation has increased, allowing horrific viruses and plagues to travel with man.
If man were to become more self sustaining, more secluded (not totally), and more considerate of healthy living habits, things would be much better. We have paid a heavy price for not following our Creator’s plan for us, but perhaps the few that are willing to start trying now, will make some difference for the future of what becomes left of mankind. That is, when all is said and done.
I encourage all to do everything then can to drawl closer to our Father and Creator – after all he knows what is best for us. Use the ability to learn, and make the changes in your life to prepare properly. Make new small life style changes and it can have a huge impact in your life for the better. Raise a healthy little garden, drink filtered and purified water, use organic supplies, rest well, keep to smaller pockets of a population, and maintain a good relationship with God. In the end, it may go well with you.

Kathleen · December 5, 2010 at 4:49 am

As the Queen said in WW2 “Keep Calm, and Carry On”, this helped a nation in a time of great peril to do what had to be done. We can all learn from this, a culture if fear stops us in our tracks, yes we can learn good lessons from history, we can also learn to “be prepared, be creative in our daily living” and still function. History can also provide us with the lessons that show how we can recover and do better. No we don’t know what’s around the corner, Hope is more powerful than fear, courage is a enemy of helplessness. So “Keep Calm and Carry on everybody”.

Melinda · December 6, 2010 at 8:26 pm

You make a very good point about the role media plays in our lives. Most of us turn on the evening news and whatever they report is all that we know. It behooves us all to search out alternative media (including foreign) in order to be aware of what’s going on that the mainstream journals don’t mention. Thanks for reminding us of that!

jamie · December 7, 2010 at 12:25 am

I have gone almost exclusivly to the wb for info and education. I’m sadden that most of the Main Stream Media have become nothing more than “propaganda outlets”.
I always wondered how most folks were taken in by the Nazi’s in Germany and how they could buy into the “Big Lie”. Now I know I just wish it wasn’t cause I see the same game being played in the USA.
Scary times indeed, glad I’m getting prepared.

Colleen Kearns · October 18, 2015 at 6:50 pm

Please address the method you
Please address the method you use to keep your glass jars of food from breaking during an earthquake. I saw you mention this on a blog/video with regards to the Foodsaver series, but haven’t been able to locate it in this wonderful site.

Thanks.

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