Are You Prepared? Am I?

prep·a·ra·tion  

/ˌprepəˈrāSHən/

Noun

1. The action of making ready or being made ready for use.
2. Something done to get ready for an event or undertaking.

Some of you know that I am training/preparing for a Sprint Triathlon in May. I have been a runner for many years but a few months ago was challenged by one of my friends to do a triathlon. You know I am stubborn (I like to think of it as "disciplined") so I took up the challenge and the preparation that goes with trying to complete a short (very short) triathlon.

A couple of events have happened in the last couple of days that have made me think about preparation/training in a little different way. Our oldest called this week, sharing with us that as a nurse, she lost her first patient. It was a traumatic death and one that shook Shelbi to the core as you might imagine. I will spare you the details, but I did remind Shelbi that God had been preparing her for a long time to work with patients and that there would come a time, (God knew the time) that a patient would die under her care. I reminded her that God had prepared her well. And then I thought about the individual who died. Was he ready? Was he prepared to slip into eternity?

Another event that has occurred involves a pastor friend of mine named David Landrith. David pastors the great Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, TN. David is a loving, caring pastor who more importantly loves Jesus and Loves his family. He recently has been diagnosed with cancer and is beginning the process of undergoing treatments that will be very rigorous.

These things cause me to realize that the best way to be prepared is to not focus on every possible circumstance, but to be focused on the One to trust and rely on. I know Shelbi and David love Jesus. I know that they could never be prepared for every possible circumstance, but they are leaning in hard and trusting Christ.

I am praying for each of them. I am praying that they and I will trust Christ in all things. There is no better way to be prepared.