Ark Building 101

Ok anyone who's been anywhere near a tv in the last month (no matter where you live) has heard the media talking about all the flooding, and has seen pictures of all the destruction. It's awful, it's sad, and it's very humbling. And it all got me thinking...which as you all know, isn't always a good thing.

Our home is high enough that we should never have to worry about being flooded. But for the sake of discussion, lets say that wasn't the case. Perhaps we were the type to really be organized. I'm talking amazingly orgnaized. More organized than my mom, who is the QUEEN of being organized. Lets say we were so organized we decided to build a boat "just in case" we ever needed to evacuate. How big would that boat need to be?

How big was Noahs boat? Well if you look in Genesis, God told Noah how to build the ark: "So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high (in the KJV they say cubits, but really...who uses that form of measurement anymore?). Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks."

Ok, since I'm no good at numbers that doesn't help me much. How big was Noahs boat? Well, an NFL football field is 350 feet long and 160 feet wide, so the ark was longer and narrower than a football field. It's also a little taller than a 4 story building. We're talking about one BIG boat.

I have decided we wouldn't need a boat quite that big...although we could then just put our whole house inside it and not have to worry about packing anything up.

Which brings up a question: If you had to pack up quickly...what would you make sure you took along (outside of spouse, children, and pets of course)? I would grab the fire safe box with all our photo negatives inside. Of all personal possessions, pictures are the one thing I would be sick to lose. I would also grab my camera and medications any of us would need. Then of course I'd stock up on the usual food, drinks, and plenty of toilet paper....hey wait....that brings up a question - did Noah have a bathroom on the boat? They didn't have port-a-potties for rent back then. And what about a kitchen. Did Mrs. Noah have a way to cook on the ark? So much important info left out of the bible.

Ok...I got off track there, where was I? hhmmm....oh yea, what I'd take. I'd make sure we all took our cell phones and chargers along, and if possible I'd grab at least one tv, and the Wii game....I'm getting pretty good at bowling and tennis and who knows how long we'll be stuck on this boat (which reminds me, I better pack deoderant)! Plus we've ordered Wii Fit and I plan to be the hoola-hoop queen! The only other thing I'd really want to make sure I have along is my pillow. I love my pillow and never get a good nights sleep when I'm somewhere without it.

So that's my list. It may seem silly, but as long as I have my husband, my children and my dogs, there isn't much else I'd feel I "have" to have. Please don't think I'm making light of what the people in flooded areas are going through though. I'm sure if I were really going through it, I'd feel much worse about items I've lost. God bless all of those families.