Are you prepared?  On Tuesday afternoon Jesus went to the Mount of Olives which overlooks Jerusalem.   Here he spoke about many things, much of which included instructions on the “end times.”  During Easter we can easily understand why he would address final things.  And while there is debate today on several different end-time events, Jesus was crystal clear about one thing, “…you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:32-37)

When we look at our lives, the most obvious thing we know will happen is death (in a physical sense).  What we don’t know is when this will occur.  Some of us may receive guidance from doctors, but the exact day or hour is certainly unknown.  However this fact doesn’t excuse us from the need to plan.  Consider retirement… many various assumptions come into good retirement analysis, one of which is longevity.  The problem is none of us really know this answer, just like we don’t know exactly what the markets will do, how our investments may fluctuate, or what unexpected needs may surface that try to derail our best laid plans.

Planning for tomorrow doesn’t mean that you will predict exactly how things will turn out.  Rather it focuses more on being good stewards of what is entrusted to us… more on making sound decisions today with strategic but flexible plans that can hopefully weather the unexpected storms of life.

Consider today that you ultimately aren’t in control.  Yes, this is a humbling thought, and at times even downright scary.  But reality is that we don’t know exactly how long we will live, much less what things may unfold tomorrow… or in the next hour!  But there are things you can do now that will help you stay “on guard” and “awake” for what’s coming down the road.  Realization of this can help us all keep a better perspective, and ultimately help us do as the Boy Scouts of America pledge… to simply “Be Prepared.”