Learning From Noah’s Ark

Valerie J. Steimle

Presidential debates, earthquakes, unemployment, financial ruin. We hear a lot of commotion in the news. If your family wasn’t affected by the earthquake, it certainly will be by the presidential debates or unemployment. Certainly the threat of our country’s financial ruin has been hanging over our heads for several months. We are sliding into the last quarter of the year and we seem worse off as country now than we were in January.

Freedom fighters and Constitutional patriots have popped up all over the whole country. Their message is clear: they seek to “reaffirm the Constitution of the United States as supreme law of the land and gain back our freedoms.” There are writings all over the internet of what needs to be done first to accomplish this. One important point made by several economists was that we need to address the problems in our own lives and then focus on helping in our community, city, State and then our Nation.

On that thought, I found a great reminder to help keep our life in check. The lessons from Sunday School are sometimes more applicable to our modern lives than we realize:

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark:

ONE: Don't miss the boat. Get on board with your community. Pay attention to what is going around you. Read all you can to help your family and others.

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat! We are all human beings and have the same needs so we can help each other. Neighborhoods should share resources when possible. As we become accustomed to sharing, when a crisis really strikes, we are prepared.
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. If we feel impressed to stash some canned food away every week, by all means do it! In order to take care of our families, we need to think ahead to prepare for what ever crisis comes our way.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. That goes for everyone, no matter what the age. Get off the couch and walk, bike, swim or skip. You will feel much better.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. If there is criticizing heard at your house, just ignore it. Being prepared is an important job.
SIX: Build your future on high ground. This is not a good time to take risks. This is not a good time to over extend the budget or buy unnecessary purchases for our “wants”. Staying financially safe within a family budget is always preferred.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. Go your own pace and get their safe.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. 

Remember these wise words for the future. You will be glad you did.