Mar 43 min read

Can You Sleep When the Wind Blows?

Updated: Apr 25

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. As they dreaded the awful storms that raged wreaking havoc on 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 man.

Although puzzled by his answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk. The farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work.

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 man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”

The 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 all the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. 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.

Devastations of all kinds are happening all around us. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, fires, loss of employment, illness, accidents. We cannot deny we are experiencing some interesting and turbulent times.

We have been admonished to prepare ourselves and our families for the unforeseen by our state, our city, and our religious leaders. It is a voice of warning to all of us. As we accept responsibility for our families and loved ones by preparing to take care of ourselves by storing food, water, fuel, warm clothing, extra clothing, shelter, and some form of communication so that if something were to happen tonight or tomorrow, we would not panic.

We realize that it is not any one event that we are preparing for, but a way of life we create that will give us peace of mind, peace of conscience, peace of heart. And in doing so, we will handle whatever comes our way. In preparing, we learn that sometimes we need to make a sacrifice, give up something wanted now for something that may save our lives and those we love. Giving up a movie, dinner out, television programs, or an extravagant trip could mean extra food on our shelves, water stored, a tent, cooking supplies, etc. Make the preparations, then check them off one at a time.

As we practice being without heat or electricity, we discover alternative ways to cook and heat our homes.

In the process, we gain skills, and hopefully gather our families around us to learn together enjoying a different family time. We create a lifestyle of responsibility and accountability for ourselves and family and create meaningful memories as we prepare our children.

We are all in this together and we value your preparedness of your own family just like the farmer valued the hired hands preparation.