Our family enjoyed a visit to Fort Kearney Historical Park a few weeks ago. On the way we were reading a book on economics called How the World Runs (And Your Part In It) by Kevin Swanson. In the book he wrote, During the Great Depression in the Untied States, some families who owned farms reported that they did not even know they were in a depression. Their pantries were stocked. Their homes were heated. They still had jobs. Their wealth was not at the mercy of Wall Street speculators. Their wealth was standing in the fields or in their barns.
I felt led to share this after we read it, because I found it motivating and encouraging. I love to think back to the past and learn how people lived with so little and still survived. I don’t share this because I think something bad is going to happen, (I don’t really pay to much attention to what’s going on) but I share it as an encouragement, because we can all do things to improve our quality of life whether hard times come or not. If we can learn basic skills like cooking from scratch, growing food, natural medicine, building, sourcing local heat sources, and truly discerning between wants and needs we can really thrive. By building community with like-minded people, working together, and sourcing food and things more locally we can become a lot more resilient.
Our physical need are really quite simple; food, warm shelter, and a small amount of clothing. In our modern world we have confused a lot of wants with needs and keeping this mind set can really help when times are good or in times of job loss, natural disaster, economic collapse, war, shortages, or financial insecurity. My encouragement to you and myself is to work hard, learn new skills, build community with like-minded people, do not be anxious in anything, get more prepared, enjoy life, and fear the Lord.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.