Expanding on our video: People from all walks of life are becoming more concerned about the potential for uncertainty, shortages, and even violence in the future. Many people realize that the very calm and collected society that we have been blessed with is actually not the norm of human existence. Historically speaking, our society is an anomaly - the average citizen has not needed to consider preparation for severe shortages or dangers for generations. And as such, we have lost some of the foundational characteristics of our national identity and heritage. A country that was once, not long ago, adventurers, frontiersmen, self-sufficient farmers and tight knit communities has become a very dependent, inexperienced and insecure (as far as capabilities) society. Thankfully, we still have some sub-cultures that are not quite so far down that path, and some that still need and practice the skills that were once common. And now, we are seeing a big cultural push to rediscover those skills and abilities.
As we see more people jumping into preparedness and self-defense, the likelihood of participation based on fear, panic, social input, cool factor, internet clout and other surface motivations absolutely increases. Consequently, the increase in beginners dropping out also increases.
But what makes this topic a valuable and long term commitment rather than just a fad? Conviction. People who have allowed these experiences, feelings, and information to develop into a world view or core value are going to stick with it to a considerably higher degree than those who act based on emotion that fades away. When it does, these people are left with a worldview that did not change. They simply applied a bandage to their fear and gained a false sense of confidence in their preparation.
Conviction however, is rooted on the question: what is right for me to do? Or, what would be wrong for me to neglect? The answers to these questions are more foundational and long lasting than a feeling of insecurity or lack of safety.
So, as you dive into the world of self-reliance, self-defense, readiness, and responsibility, spend some time intentionally dissecting your motives and intents. Writing these things down absolutely helps to quantify the things that may just be floating around in your head. Talk to your valued individuals and mentors about it. Reflect. And maybe as you develop your views, you even gain some insight into the lives past in history who practiced these things as well.
This list wont be a one stop fix for you to be able to feel secure. It is a guideline to help you catch up to where you want to be efficiently. But the real life list is never ending. You can always find a way to be more effective than where you are now. And those who truly have the conviction that they are responsible for these things, will not simply abandon the goal after getting to the point of "good enough."
I like to break my values down to bare principles that I maintain to be true and result in my convictions of certain topics. 1. By God's grace, I serve God and intend to do what glorifies Him (There is no other greater purpose in life).
2. One way to glorify God is to love others.
3. One way to love others (biblically) is to protect and provide for them.
4. This is a specific calling given to men.
5. There are natural and historical dangers that could hurt those I am called to love.
6. Therefore, I am called to glorify God; by loving others in the order of priority set by Scripture; by fulfilling my role as a man; by being responsible for, capable of, and equipped to protect and provide for them in the potential situations, in order of priority of most to least, likely to befall them.
7. For me to willfully neglect this calling is to sin.
There are some underlying justifications for these statements, like where specifically we are mandated to these roles in scripture; and I am greatly looking forward to having those discussions soon.
As you can see here. The passion I have for this, is rooted in foundational values to my worldview and as such, is not something I can easily neglect or walk away from. The question from here is a matter of "to what extent?" or "To what degree is reasonable to prepare for?" This is another topic that I look forward to addressing in the future. But for now, as we start off this list, getting your worldview sorted out should be sufficient to get rolling, as the first steps we are touching on are general, basic steps that I believe EVERYONE should take on as a matter of personal responsibility.