Stay the course.

As you may know, I was out of town and away from my blog during the first stages of the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Since I wasn't able to offer suggestions immediately, here are a few of my thoughts now. Unfortunately, natural and human-made disasters happen all the time. To give our best response we need to prepare now and keep a high level of preparation all the time. Here's how:

* Fight hunger regularly so that food banks are well stocked before and emergency and fewer are hungry to begin with.

* Practice tolerance regularly so that when a crisis occurs, you'll know how to treat people with justice, equality and fairness, regardless of their class, age, or ethnicity.

* Conserve fuel regularly. That way you'll be better prepared when (not if) there is a shortage or the cost becomes prohibitive.

* Give blood regularly. You can do it every 56 days. 60% of Americans can give but only 5% do. Guess what that means in an emergency.

* Demand accountability regularly. If there is fraud in your organization, consider reporting it. You may not think it matters much now (even though it does), but in a time of crisis fraudulent activity can cause suffering and death.

* Be prepared regularly. Take Red Cross health and safety courses. Learn first aid, CPR, emergency response, and more so that you can be helpful in a time of crisis.

* Do the right thing regularly. Your contribution will help us all be better prepared for the next disaster.

Good works are not just for emergencies; they are needed all the time. Get prepared, stay prepared, then stay the course.

"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man." - William Shakespeare