I was not a boy Scout. I went to an alternate, Church based group… but I did do the advanced expedition badge with them. And preparing for trips was drummed into us. It was drummed into us that we live on an island, and we can experience four seasons in one tramp. Therefore, even on a day trip, take warm clothing, food, a map… a compass…
In short, be prepared.
1″Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
It is clear that one group prepared for delay. For difficulties. For bad times as well as good. The foolish young women assumed that everything would go OK. They had never heard the wisdom if Murphy “if it can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible momnent“.
We often talk about what we need to survive. What should be in our car, in our bug out bag… but we forget to think about the other ways we need to be prepared. Do we carry our faith in our head, the word of God in our head. Do we have the disciplines of the godly life (prayer, study, seasons, fasting, a community of faith). Do we have ways of keeping ourselves sane and wise when the world is going foolish. Are we oathkeepers or breakers of oaths.
For these things matter. I spend hours ensuring that people I help are taught them. If you do not have them, it is like going for a walk in a blizzard without a coat. We will be foolish.
Because we cannot plan for calm weather or smooth travelling. Or schedules to run perfectly. We need to have resilence. And the kingdom of God does contain prudence, wisdom and discipline.