We often define and limit preparation by tasks and period. One is assumed prepared for one thing or the other when a generally prerequisite activity of sort has been carried out. However, this is just on the surface level. It is surface level because like beget like, and depth beget depth. The preparations limited to these certain activities are like coating a substance with sugar; it cannot have the same effect as sugar. When people base preparation on just prep up activities, the impact is thin and light when compared with being a prepared fellow.

A prepared fellow has become what he is preparing for and is still becoming more of it. Such sees it as beyond performance but an expression. He/she seeks not to impress but to impact.

You do not become that prepared by certain crash activities, as there are other things that prep you up without you knowing. There are many things in our daily lives, which subtly prepare us for what is ahead. We are prepared by everything and everyone that comes our way. Thus, when you limit it to certain events, you get limited preparation.

Our making is continuous, happening every day. Our life training does not have holidays or breaks. Even the supposed time off we might assume we have are part. It takes a lifetime to acquire all we need to function well. Thus, preparation for that full picture is continuous; it is a lifestyle- your lifestyle. To prepare for that future is to configure your lifestyle to fit it. You don’t attempt to do a last-minute conformation; it will not work that way.

Preparation is not an event but a lifestyle.

You configure your lifestyle by responding to life and all it throws at you from the viewpoint of where you are going while threading on the path that leads you there.

Your destination determines your path in life

While there are paths that might be common to people generally, the specific paths are often narrow, unique and low in traffic. To stick to your path is an indication of willingness to be prepared, as you cannot arrive at your destination without passing through your path.

Peradventure by one device or the other, one arrive at that destination without passing through the required path (if it’s possible at all), such would have skipped so many lessons required to function effectively and efficiently at such destination.

We do not choose our paths because of reasons and feelings, rather our destination determine the path we have to take. You must journey that path before you reach that destination. Your successful management of the path usher you into that destiny. In fact, the destination is defined by your experiences on the path. So concentrate on the path, determined to manage it successfully and faithfully as it determines your destination. The path is your preparation; continuing on it is being prepared.

The path does not have one kind or a uniform topography. The features change overtime often without any definite pattern or warning.

There are the smooth portions of the path. You feel good about your journey and believe in your journey. The experiences are so pleasing, readily suggesting to you that you are on the right path. Your life is so balanced that you can assume an autopilot mode rarely stressed on any matter.

There are the rough portions with their attendants struggle. There is loss of time and speed. You sense the discomfort and the life noise coming at you could set you off balance. You are tempted to find fault and place some blames.

There are the hilly portions with obstacles and challenges ahead, which seem to be impossibilities. You keep climbing with much faith hoping that that you would soon reach the peak so that you can rest. You know you cannot rest until you reach that peak lest your slide back and crash. You fear, hope, fear again and then hope that your gears would not wear out before you surmount them. On reaching the summit, you rejoice as if you have reached your destination, even taking a supposed well-deserved rest.

There are the valley portions, which position you (dangerously) on the path of waters. These waters could be gentle or otherwise. Drowning thoughts fill the mind on encountering troubled waters and desperation might set in. Survival becomes the new vision and one is ready to hold on to anything, even floating substances of no true weight.

There are the plain portions, which contradict the initial expectations. On setting out, one had dreamt of something spectacular, exotic, fanciful and the likes. However, things are looking too simple and ordinary. One no longer has that ‘super’ feeling not to mention seeing that ‘special’ in it. One wonders if he/she is up to anything in the first place or just embarking on a child’s play. The road here seems to be adorned with the ‘significance’ question.

There are the straight portions where you see a long stretch before you. While it is supposed to be a thing of delight and it is initially, you might soon realize that the distance is too much for you to cover. You fear at times and wonder if you would reach what you see. Your resources might suddenly assume smallness in your thoughts. In fact, you become a grasshopper in some of the fleeting thoughts that flashes past your mind. You are tempted to ask if you are not overreaching yourself.

There are the bend portions where you do not seem to know what is ahead. You are moving and peeping yet you cannot fathom what lies ahead. You are expectant but you do not know what you are expecting. You are continuing with such a blind trust even though realities are suggesting you have been traveling a cul-de-sac. You slow down and proceed with caution.

There are major and minor intersections. At such points, you see alternative routes and exit routes. You run into different people, even those you do not want to meet. Some will encourage you directly or indirectly and others would do otherwise. You could even join others in their journey, heading for their destination. It is an intersection of choices and decisions, and they are yours to make. Your doubts all along on the journey are brought to the fore here and your supposed faith is also tested here.

Interestingly, the aforementioned portions do not occur independently, but in ever changing combinatorics of two, three or more.

The tarrying season is actually your growth window

Oftentimes, we think the path is getting too long and the journey is taking forever. Many do get off the path; crossing to another that is believed would take them their faster. However, changing path is definitely changing destination. Even in the case of it still leading there using the argument of there are many ways to the market, one would have lost the equipping placed on the original path.

Our haste on the path is often founded on the unpleasantness we encounter on the path. However, such are part of the tools being used to work us in preparation for what is to come. They are life tools whose impact cannot be acquired in a classroom but on the ‘fields’.

Thus, instead of complaining, grumbling and murmuring, seek to maximize such tarrying moment; do not just tarry, get trained in life skills and grow.

As you grow, your comprehension grows. What you saw at the beginning of the journey gets clearer as you continue on your preparation path. A positive attitude and response to the encounters on the path will grow you.

Growth is not just a function of time but knowledge taken to heart and exercising it. The scenarios playing out on the path force you to exercise what you think you know and in the process, confirm some, discard some and build on others. The process of sorting out your knowing, which form your thoughts and making them part of you is the actual growth. Your understanding and interpretation of the vision you thought you saw earlier in life gets clearer.

Your vision is not changing; you only comprehend better. Preparation involves fine-tuning of vision until you see correctly, fully and wholly.

The preparation is centered on making you ready.

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. James 1:2-5 NLT