J. Davy Crockett III

Times change and one generation’s meaningful metaphors are lost on the next. In an urban age of dizzying technological advances, Internet access, and an endless array of devices, earthy agricultural references lose their impact. This is lamentable since life lessons are prominently symbolized by agrarian practices in the Bible. Many colorful expressions and illustrations picture prosperity on one hand and deprivation on the other, offering spiritual lessons to be learned from each.

Whether it be in the form of winter storms, epidemics, or other natural or man-made disasters, the threat of imminent danger on the horizon seems to trigger an urgent need for bread. I’m sure you’ve seen it. Within days or even minutes of a terrifying prediction, supermarket and convenience store shelves are emptied. Jokes are made about it and fun is poked at those who react this way. It shows the insecurity that people feel as a threat approaches.

Have you observed angry, demanding groups with a grievance, real or imagined, or special interests seeking redress with threats of disruption or violence to achieve their ends? Consider personal behaviors that were illegal for millennia but are now considered to be “civil rights.” Think about the surreal assertion that biological gender is not limited to “male and female” and that individuals can “choose” their gender without regard to their actual chromosomal makeup or genitalia.

Recently, Hurricane Michael pummeled the Gulf coast and the Mid-Atlantic states, causing widespread property damage and loss of life. On the heels of that, Northern California has experienced the worst fire season on record. Firefighters and rescue efforts are overwhelmed, with some small towns facing complete devastation. The loss of life is staggering, with hundreds of people still missing. Wildfires have raced through the bone-dry hills and valleys, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds—an unusual phenomenon in that area.

Hurricane Michael, a powerful Category 4 storm, recently roared ashore in the Florida Panhandle before veering northeast with high winds, record breaking rainfall, widespread flooding, astounding amounts of property damage, and power outages for millions of people. Vacationers scattered, residents evacuated, and emergency crews prepared for the worst. There were scenes of heroic rescues and the dramatic pictures of the devastation in the affected areas dominated the news for days.