Doomsday Prep For Non-Paranoid People
That is the title of an amusing article I read by Leigh Anderson. I will warn you there is a bad word in the article, but overall I found it funny and thought-provoking.
Reading this article coincided with Kimray’s Annual Shareholders Meeting where the subject of “what do we do if something bad happens” almost always comes up. This year, it was in the form of a discussion during the afternoon family meeting about the future leadership of Kimray and then, ultimately, about the future of Kimray itself.
Remember, “you are not paranoid if people are really out to get you.”
We have a fantastic vision that is guiding us and helping everyone know where we are going. We do wonderful strategic planning and get better every year at creating achievable milestones. We have a high-functioning team that performs well together and is really hitting its stride. So, what happens if someone doesn’t make it to work someday? What if our industry suddenly changes? What is our prep plan for these and other possibilities?
One way to handle future uncertainty is to deny that it can or will happen. This is not wise. History teaches us that things will eventually go wrong. Ecclesiastes 11:8 says, “But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity” (KJV). Likewise, Proverbs 27:1 warns, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (NIV).
Sometimes people assume they will be able to accommodate the disruption and adapt to the new circumstances. This is seldom true. Without some foresight and preparation, the skills, resources, and plans needed to meet the new challenges are not often available. Proverbs 6:6–8 says, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter” (NLT).
The prudent thing is to assess the most likely potential threats and make reasonable preparations to manage them. Most of us have insurance on our cars and homes and, in many cases, our lives. We acknowledge that an accident is possible, and we plan for the financial resources to restore what is damaged. We can do the same thing for other areas of our personal and corporate lives.
You might drive a car your whole life and never get in an accident. You might own a home and never experience a fire or other disaster. You might never lose a key team member suddenly and without warning. You will, however, face your Creator someday. Psalm 39:4 says, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is” (NLT). When life here on earth is over, each of us will face God. Many people will procrastinate and say, “I don’t need to change my life or accept him.” That is why many people will hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV).
If you are reading this musing, I hope you are trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. However, if you read “prepper” blogs and articles, there are people who are not just preparing for their own survival but also care about keeping their families and friends safe from disaster.
Who do you know who would not be “safe” if they were to die today? Do you care enough about these people to share food, water, and shelter with them in the event of a crisis? Why would you help save them from earthly trials and leave them out in the storm in an eternal sense?
Today is the day. We do not know what a day might bring. Let’s be prepared to manage our business and homes in the face of disaster or disruption. More importantly, let’s share with those around us the only real security we can have in an uncertain and decidedly terminal world.
That is love, which also happens to be The Kimray Way.