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Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. The people dreaded the awful storms that raged from the sea, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.
Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “"Are you a good farm hand?"” the farmer asked him. "“Well, I can sleep when the wind blows",” answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.
Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "“Get Up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "“No sir, I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."”
Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarps. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.
Everything was tied down.
Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
MORAL OF THIS STORY
When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.
My wife is fond of saying “Bloom Where You're Planted”. She says this mostly in response to people's attitudes to procrastinate and hold back there energy in doing something “for later”. Too often people approach life with an attitude that they are not yet in the place or circumstances that they desire, so they don't give their best.
"I didn't get the class at school I really wanted, so I'm not going to throw my heart and soul in to it.”" Or “"This home is only temporary, so we are not going to spend time beautifying the yard."” Or “"I will only be living here a short time, I don't want to spend the time and energy making lasting friendships”."
It is kind of like living out of a suitcase. I have learned that even if I spend only a day in a hotel, I fully unpack and make it like home, rather than constantly digging through my suitcase searching for that toothbrush. Bloom Where You're Planted. A flower never complains that it didn't get the sunny spot next to the faucet. It blooms and does its very best regardless of the conditions. By blooming where we are planted, we gain valuable experience that we can carry with us wherever our journey takes us next. Who knows what opportunities, friends and experiences have been missed by not blooming?
And so, here is my advise to you – Prepare your life so you can Sleep when the Wind Blows and Bloom Where You're Planted.
You can Sleep When the Wind Blows and Bloom Where You're Planted by preparing for life's storms. Whether they are personal storms of hardship or storms that affect your community. You can and must prepare. Here are some things to consider:
- Are your home and tools are in good repair?
- Do you have adequate supplies of food and fuel? – now is the time to get ready for winter. If you could not leave your home for a week, how would you get along?
- Are you implementing and following a plan to get out of debt and living within your means? – Spend less money than you bring home and save a little each paycheck.
- Do you have a good supply of emergency herbal medicines and first aid supplies? Of course, I feel passionately about this one.
If a disaster were to strike, not only would the store shelves be empty but the pharmacies as well. Herbal tinctures have a very long shelf life and remain potent and effective. I recommend the following:
- Immune Boost for the treatment of illnesses and infectious diseases
- Nerve Calm
- Pain Formula
- Lungs Plus
- Cayenne Tincture
- Lobelia Tincture
- Kidney Bladder Formula
- Liver-Gallbladder Formula
- Anti-Parasite Formula
- Colon Cleanse Formula
- Colon Detox Formula
- Complete Tissue Repair Ointment
- Digestion Aid Formula
- and any others which may be necessary for any specific health problems you or a loved one may have.
Plant a winter garden. Even if you only plant some swiss chard and lettuce among your flower beds. Order seed catalogs for next springs garden. I like Seeds of Change and the Seed Savers Exchange.
Begin where you are and with what you have. Take advantage of Western Botanicals anniversary sale. Take stock of what you've got and what you need. Prepare today and bloom right where you are planted so that you can sleep when the wind blows.
~ Dr. Kyle D. Christensen ~
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