All posts by Pierre

Distinctions

Simple Beyond Complex

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This is a blog post that has been ruminating within me for years, I remember first discovering or accepting the distinction while working at the Pentagon 16 years ago, and have been contemplating it since.   I would love to have your feedback or thoughts about it.

It starts with the idea, or the essence of an idea, that simplicity is profound.  Essentially, in Science, Mathematics, Philosophy, Religion or any Human related endeavor, there exists a simple truth that ultimately encases or governs how things work within it. For example, physicists have discovered four forces that govern the Universe and they continue to pursue (and believe) that these four forces will eventually be defined by a single force.    Thus, the complexity of the universe ultimately will be described in one single and expectantly simple equation.

Taking this to a more philosophic bend, I have discovered that I am much more content and fulfilled when I eliminate most of the complexity (BS), anxiety, and distraction in my life by returning to a place of simplicity.   I am aggressively working to de-clutter, downsize, and simplify every aspect of my life (spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and physically).    Contemplating this appeal is the essence of this blog topic.

Christ says “anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of heaven like a child will never enter it.”

Imagine our children (not my teenagers today), but an innocent baby or toddler.   When you watch them, they are entirely caught in the moment and are present to exactly what they need or want that second. They see a ball, they grab it, play with it, chew it, throw it. They are happy and content in their very simple lives (as their needs are provided for).   They aren’t worried about the future, or stressed about past failings, they are entirely present to themselves and the immediate world around them. Frankly, life is simple, and Christ asks us to see the world like this child.

However, this simplicity is complicit with naivety and lacks appreciation or awareness of the complex challenges they are about to face as the world comes upon them. When are they going to get their next bottle, skateboard, bike, or car. How can they get what they want, and what everyone else seems to have?

Complexity enters their life. They start to take on worry, stress, anxiety and WANT. Why am I not getting enough affection? Why do they have all those great things? Why am I not as fast, strong or as powerful as him? I keep making mistakes, why am I not good enough? Essentially, my complex life puts me into the paradox of unworthiness.

This difficult transformation from from childhood to adulthood as the world goes from simple to complex creates the stories and messages that govern our lives. We create complex responses to survive and often pursue having money, recognition, achievement, and affection to overcome them. We essentially become engulfed in “the cares of this world”.

I believe, as many of us approach mid-life, we see that the drivers of our activity are irrational and fleeting. This crisis forces the recognition that life’s complexities are choking out our personal fulfillment and God-given purpose. In that place, many of us begin another painful transformation. One that may cause complete upheaval of our present circumstance. We may make job changes, lifestyle reorientation, divorce, find religion, etc. This potential transformation requires a deep reflective and often painful transition away from complexity. It is our “hero’s journey.”

Unfortunately, for many, we try to recreate and reorganize these complexities. Fill the holes and pain from one story to another.    Others aren’t willing to go as deep and dark as necessary to shed the messages, stories, or deal with open wounds that aren’t serving us anymore. We aren’t willing to peak behind the curtain and see the ridiculous levers that the wizard (let’s say ego) is using to manipulate our lives.

However, this crisis can also provide us the awareness that can return us to the simplicity and humility that Christ requests of us. By shedding our stories, our anxieties, our fleeting pursuits, we can move to one that is alive in the present; or alive in God’s presence.

I am convinced,  that this simplicity only can be found after a dangerous transition through and appreciation of the complexity of our world.    I am personally navigating this “hero’s journey” and (like the physicists)  am unifying the forces that guide my life into a few simple truths.  The belief that my happiness, purpose, and reason for being exists right before me, and can be seen in living a life of truth and simplicity.

Blessings – Pierre

 

Other

F-15D Crash (Pilot Safe)

A F-15D crashed in England yesterday.     The 493rd Fighter Squadron (Grim Reapers) lost one of their jets, and thankfully recovered the pilot.    On my first assignment, the squadron was an 18 PAA (primary aircraft assigned)  and flew F-15C aircraft while maintaining one F-15D aircraft for training purposes (86-182).    During my second tour, they were re-designated a 24 PAA squadron and maintained two F-15D aircraft.  I flew with the 493rd Fighter Squadron for two tours and over six years during my career.   For the first 10 years of the squadron’s existence (based on my overlap) I knew just about everyone who flew in the squadron.

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On my final assignment, I was the 48 OSS squadron commander, responsible for operations, intelligence, weather, scheduling, base operations and air traffic control at RAF Lakenheath.   For that reason, I was assigned outside of the Grim Reapers (technically attached and not assigned to the squadron).   Therefore, only being attached, I was relegated to have my assigned aircraft (the one with my name) as the F-15D.    Originally, I thought that aircraft was 86-182, but it was the other F-15D 84-044.    I can remember flying these D-models often.    We would often fly the two-seaters for training missions (with an observer), incentive flights and even reenlist some Airmen in it.

Yesterday, 86-182 crashed in Lincolnshire.

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I often grieve my life in the Air Force.   But today, I grieve a typical day of a Grim Reaper pilot.     I know the car ride onto the base, over the taxiway, the FOD check, and the weaving around the hangers in order not to be late.     I know the walk into “soft” and then “hard” ops, the check of the daily and weekly schedule.    I can hear his whine when he wasn’t included on the next cross-country or deployment into mainland Europe.

I can see him planning, briefing, stepping, preflighting and starting his F-15 out at the HAS.    I imagine the 4-ship launch that made the base stop for the 1:40 minutes it took for them to launch.  I see crossing the North Sea Shoreline, G-Turns, Fence-In, Setting up for an engagement, calling “Fight’s on”, “Fox-3 x 2”, “Kill the F-16 in the descending right turn” , “Knock-it-off”, return to base, descending into and then below the ever-blanketing low English clouds, maintenance debrief, the flight reconstruction, the weapon school debrief and the demanded perfection.    Grabbing a line-up card for tomorrow.   And then opening the squadron door into the starless English night, and driving home with radio blaring, feeling unbelievably alive.

But today, I lost piece of that.   So here’s a toast  to aircraft 86-182….”  (I wish I could fully remember the full Friday night Roll Call Grim Reaper toast, I hate getting old!)

Blessings – “Lucky”

 

 

Leadership, Productivity

Just Say Yes

OK – this weekend I finished a blog about the importance of saying NO.    So, God has to shake it up, and put someone else’s blog into my email today about the power of saying “YES”.    Never one to deny serendipity, I feel it is importance to acknowledge my appreciation of the importance  of saying YES.

The blog I received was from LANDMARK Insights… and I quote as follows:

“Yes” extends boundaries, establishes new playing fields, moves possibility from ideas to actuality. Actress and improv artist Tina Fey points to the opportunity yes affords us when she says, “the first rule of improv is agree—agree with whatever your partner has created. The second rule is yes, and—agree and then add something of your own. If I start a scene with ‘I can’t believe it’s so hot in here,’ and you just say, ‘Yeah…’ we’re kind of at a standstill. But if I say, ‘I can’t believe it’s so hot in here,’ and you say, ‘Yes, it can’t be good for the wax figures,’ now we’re getting somewhere.” 

So how do I reconcile saying YES, while not putting myself into a productivity drain, or by saying NO, and not leaving me “wanting.”

I believe the answer remains, as discussed in the previous blog, that my decision to say YES or NO must come from alignment with my integrity (alignment of intentions or alignment with my highest purpose).

I must understand my values, vision, mission, goals and objectives and overall intention in the world.    This “strategic guidance” for our lives (or businesses) ensures focused productivity and then guides me to say YES or NO from a place of strength.

Because, when I say YES, it is an agreement, a commitment, a responsibility that reflects upon my character and requires my action and follow through.    Saying YES is saying I commit to you this action and I will stand by it.

As I discuss with my son, it is only my actions that tell my story and not the words I use.   Therefore, saying YES or NO to you is an insight to who I am.

But to end, I must acknowledge that many times I say NO to avoid leaving my comfort zone and hide.   Saying YES in that regard is really saying, step into your fear, make room for possibility, live life to the fullest, take a chance.   And although I agree with all of these wholeheartedly, saying YES or NO is about being alignment with all of who I am.

Blessings – Pierre