Sleep When the Wind Blows
A farmer needed an extra hand to help on his farm. One young man came to
interview for the job. “What are your qualifications?” the farmer asked. “I
can sleep when the wind blows,” the young man said. This simple reply
confused the farmer, but he was desperate for help and the young man was
hired.
The young man was a diligent worker through the harvest season, but the
farmer still questioned his answer.
Autumn ended and the first cold storm of winter came late one night. The
farmer panicked as the winds began to blow. Calling the young man for help,
the farmer grabbed his coat and pulled heavy boots on his feet. He was
disappointed to find the young man asleep in bed at a time like this.
Grudgingly he ventured out alone planning to shuffle all of the animals in
the barn, and then fix that last hole in the roof. He mumbled about the
young man sleeping and was sure all the farm equipment was left standing in
the field, collecting rust from the snow.
However, when the farmer reached the barn all the animals were tucked safely
inside. In fact, clean hay had already been set out for the new day. Not a
single hole could be found in the roof, and the tractor was parked perfectly
in the shed.
“Who could have done it?” the farmer wondered. And then, he realized what
the young man’s answer meant, “I can sleep when the wind blows.
“As a child, preparing for winter meant helping haul potatoes to the outside
cellar or hanging storm windows and then anxiously waiting for Christmas.
Growing up teaches us that winter isn’t just a season, but comes in many
different forms.
A dark winter covered Southern Florida as Hurricane Andrew attacked in 1993.
Thousands of people in Rwanda face winter of starvation. What kind of
emergency would force you and your family to leave home at a moment’s
notice? Rushing about gathering children, supplies, and valuables on the
edge of a disaster certainly isn’t pleasant to think about. But when you are
prepared, your fears will be calmed.
Even if you are not asked to evacuate your home, you may be forced to stay
there without running water, electrical power, gas and liquid fuel,
communications, and only have limited grocery supplies.
Traditional thoughts are “That will never happen to me!”, but who can
predict what will occur? Most disasters strike abruptly without clear
warning. Emergencies can include power failure, plumbing problems, food
shortages at supermarkets, strikes, sudden storms, riots, droughts, floods,
and many more.
Everyone should have an emergency preparedness kit stored in a central
location at home with all the necessary items for your three-day survival
including food, water, and shelter.
Your 72 hour kit should meet the needs of your family. Add copies of birth
certificates, your marriage license and other important documents. You will
also want to have some money on hand. Include a few games for entertainment
and stress relievers or hobbies your family enjoys.
Being prepared offers peace of mind. As you prepare for this season, go one
step further. Prepare your home and family for any storm or emergency that
might arise. Then you too, can sleep when the wind blows.
