Having four Boy Scouts in our family, we were well-acquainted with their motto: “Be prepared.” This slogan‘s wisdom hit home multiple times as we recently visited Leadville, Colorado, whose population once soared to over 50,000, but now boasts a mere 2,633.
Leadville experienced an incredible but short-lived boom during the silver rush of the late 1800s. One of its colorful stories features Horace Tabor, a senator and wealthy businessman. Loaded with cash and confidence from his silver mines, he abandoned his wife of 25 years and married a young divorcee almost half his age. Together they lived the high life, enjoying much media attention… until silver prices crashed with the unexpected repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893. The former “Silver King,” caught unprepared, lost virtually all his wealth, later dying of appendicitis. His second wife scraped by for years only to freeze to death in a mining cabin. Besides his other obvious indiscretions, Tabor should have heeded biblical advice on being prepared. Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth (Ecclesiastes 11:2). In stark contrast, Tabor’s first wife wisely diversified her fraction from the divorce and died a millionaire.
Back then Leadville was said to be the most lawless town of the West. Gunfights, bar brawls, gambling, drunkenness, prostitution, and theft abounded. Beyond that, harsh winters and disease took their toll. Nevertheless, thousands of prospectors moved there in hopes of making it big, only to lose their integrity, their money, or their lives. They ignored the city’s moral reputation and unfriendly climate, arriving unprepared and blinded by greed. Proverbs 22:3 warns, A prudent person sees evil and hides himself, but the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
A modern draw to Leadville are its numerous hiking trails. Unfortunately, many naive tourists attempt climbs unprepared. Late one afternoon, JB and I embarked on a hike our trail guide described as “lung and leg busting.” A local had warned us of bears and mountain lions there as well. As experienced hikers, we brought plenty of water, hiking boots, multiple layers, a map, and even a small flashlight—just in case. After negotiating the steep ascent and enjoying the beauty of an alpine lake, we headed back down, jogging where we could because of the approaching darkness.
Not far down, we met a family hiking up the rocky trail. The father wore shorts, the mother had flip flops, and their two young girls were equally ill-outfitted. They asked about the summit distance and we went our separate ways. Later we contemplated their plight—they would never make it down before dark! We prayed for them as we raced the setting sun ourselves. We reached our vehicle shortly before the sky turned pitch black and rain began. Unprepared, that family undoubtedly struggled, cold and wet, to make the rocky descent and find their car.
Be prepared. We can’t anticipate everything that may occur in life, but as believers we can weather any storm if we stay close to God (Philippians 4:11-13). With His Spirit and the wisdom of the Word to guide us, we can avoid many pitfalls and respond to and rise above any circumstance!
