“All existing things soon change, and they will either be reduced to vapour, if indeed all substance is one, or they will be dispersed.” Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

One of the key elements of Stoicism is the concept of fate. Tragedy will befall you in some way, it is certain. Nobody really knows what fate has in store for them. It could be any number of good or bad fortunes.

So the other day I read THIS ARTICLE by Holly Drennan Deyo at LewRockwell.com. It’s about preparing for a food crisis, and why I should do so. At first read, the article seems a little alarmist. I mean really, what are the odds we have a famine in this country? Seriously, do you know the odds? Hey, YOU, I am asking you the question…seriously: DO YOU KNOW THE ODDS OF A FAMINE IN THIS COUNTRY? I know the only answer that can be given: You don’t know the odds, I don’t know the odds, even the experts are unlikely to know the likelihood of a widespread famine where you live.

The point that I want to make is not that this catastrophe is probable, but that indeed it is possible. Maybe it is not likely, or maybe it is extremely likely. This is a calculation for each of us to make. My calculation is that the chance is greater than any of us would like to admit, that food prices may soar through the roof. As a result, it might be extremely difficult for me to purchase what I need to feed myself and my family in the future (I don’t grow my own…yet).

As a Stoic, I feel fairly confident I am ready for this possibility mentally. As a Hero, I am way underprepared in physical terms. As a Stoic, I know the possible catastrophe ahead is completely out of my control. My preparation for it, however, is mostly in my control. I say mostly because, of course, I have limited resources to survive now, I have limited capacity to estimate how much time I might have, or how drastic the “catastrophe” will be, or if my wife thinks this is something to worry about enough to prepare for (we are currently in negotiation about what catastrophe preparation is appropriate . I don’t think we are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but certainly we have not come to an agreed upon strategy. UPDATE: I just read this post to her and she says we are definitely on opposite ends of the spectrum. The negotiation continues…). In essence, I must gamble with time and current resources on the possibility. Additionally, I must cooperate with those in my life on an agreed upon way ahead.

For now, let’s return to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. Read this one slowly, with the possibility of the coming famine in mind. You must read the whole thing but really let the last line sink in:

“None of these things ought to be called a man’s, which do not belong to a man, as man. They are not required of a man, nor does man’s nature promise them, nor are they the means of man’s nature attaining its end. Neither then does the end of man lie in these things, nor yet that which aids to the accomplishment of this end, and that which aids towards this end is that which is good. Besides, if any of these things did belong to man, it would not be right for a man to despise them and to set himself against them; nor would a man be worthy of praise who showed that he did not want these things, nor would he who stinted himself in any of them be good, if indeed these things were good. But now the more of these things a man deprives himself of, or of other things like them, or even when he is deprived of any of them, the more patiently he endures the loss, just in the same degree he is a better man.“

Your thoughts and comments, please!