3,000

In between the craziness of life at the 181st, I did some figuring (well actually an online date to date site did all the work) on when I would hit my 3,000 run streak day.

Since it is snowing today in Terre Haute, I thought it would be a good time to think about Spring! My big 3k day is April 30, 2020.

Any runners want to join me that day (either in person or in spirit) to celebrate with a celebrator run?? For those that make it to Terre Haute, I will promise a run with me on the flight line of the beautiful Hulman Field Airport!!!

As my friends in the running world say..."keep streaking!"

Whether you are a runner or not, let me encourage you/remind you that little good things done over and over again can and will add up to big results.

Keep chipping away at your goals. Hang in there. Stay strong.

Silence

I have started a new discipline of embracing more silence in my life. We live in a noisy world and we will never truly connect to Christ until we make friends with silence (I believe my favorite Catholic Theologian, Thomas Merton, said something like this).

Silence comes to us as so foreign because we have lied to ourselves that noise is good and silence is bad. It is in silence that I meet my true self. It is in silence that I have any hope of listening to the Spirit's call upon my life.

How about you? How friendly are you with silence?

Of course there are different types of silence (getting/giving the "silent treatment" is not what I am talking about).

How about giving yourself an early Christmas gift by making space for more Holy silence in your life?

Family Readiness

As you probably are aware any member of the National Guard must be ready to deploy within 72 hours of notification. This is primarily used when the Governor needs our services because of a natural disaster. We are required to keep our bags packed.

But it is more than just personally being ready with my bags packed. I also have to ensure my family is ready. There is no military readiness without family readiness.

I have been reminded recently how important it is that families are ready at any time for their service member to be absent for an unknown period of time. Each military installation has a "Family Readiness" director that does nothing but ensures families are ready for deployments and are cared for during times of separation. These directors are awesome and provide an incredible service to the military.

My family has been ready each of the 3 times I have deployed. It is never easy to be separated, but I have appreciated their support of me and the ways they stepped up at home to make sure life in the Lundy household went on without me. 

I am grateful for my "ready" family.

Recap

I am slowly finding a (sort of) routine in my visiting the top secret mission area. There are a lot of moving parts so things are always in flux. I am truly enjoying my time "on the floor" visiting the crews. Here are some random reflections thus far:

• I serve some incredibly smart people that do some amazing things with technology
• Most of these smart people are young people...our freedom is being ensured by Airmen half my age
• The work is taxing and the schedule is grueling
• I appreciate being brought into their world. I began because I had to be there, but now over time I get the sense that some really look forward to my visits
• I still don't have a good way to process "my stuff" at any depth, but I do appreciate you reading this blog and allowing me to some processing here   

7th Grade Kent

If I could go back to meet the 7th grade me, I would tell that knucklehead to pay attention in English class. If you have heard me preach and/or read anything I have written (like this Blog!) you know that I can botch up the English language with the best of them!

I so wish I would have taken my English homework more serious when I was younger. The reason this is on my mind is that I am currently doing an Enlisted Performance Review for one of my subordinates and I have to use...wait for it...English!!

This person's military career in dependent on my being able to communicate effectively with the English language!

Had I known then what I know now...wow!! On a related note, I think this is would make a great Country and Western song!

 

I am not that good...

I have realized early that with as much stuff that comes at me, I have got to write everything down. I have quickly learned that if it is going to happen, it will only happen if I write it down. Conversely, I am required to record interactions I have, so I have to write that information down as well.

I don't travel anywhere on Base without my "Ch Lundy" notebook with my calendar and lots of paper to write stuff down.

All this to say...how did Moses do it? He was responsible for reciting 613 laws and could only write down 15 of them (he dropped a 1/3 of those, however).

Maybe that is why he was on the mountain for so long. How many times did he have to say to God, "...slow down there Yahweh, I can't chisel that fast; did you say 'shellfish'?; how do you spell 'covet'?"

We are a "Word" Faith...words matter. Thank God I can write them down!

Purple Envelope Revenge

As I have mentioned previously, Marti gets a weekly purple envelope from me during my deployments. This time around it is my version of our courtship and marriage (I may be taking literary license with some minor aspects of what I remember!) I am writing this story one paragraph at a time and I cut up each word so that she has to put the "puzzle" of that paragraph together each week.

To make the point of how difficult it was to hold and move around small pieces of paper, Marti has sent me my own paragraph to put together. I would like to point out that her pieces are way more numerous and way smaller than anything I have given to her (so far).

I do have a secret weapon...my "Kansas English!" Ain't no Google translate app goin' to help her there!! So she will have lots of opportunities to appreciate my "accent."

Since we are to lean towards Easter in all things and look for good even in the midst of yet another deployment, I have to say that these envelopes would have never happened if I had not deployed. And trust me, they have given us LOTS of stories to tell our grand-kids!

A Good Reminder

During some recent workplace vitiation, I stated that I was new here and asked what it would take to become a good Chaplain. One young Airman said without hesitation, "offering weekly worship opportunities."  I told him that would be too easy.

As I later reflected, I realized a few things:

• Yet another reminder that this mission is 24/7/365, right here in Terre Haute, America!
• A young person actually missed worshiping with his local congregation because he spent most Sundays at the 181st doing the mission.
• A young person hungry to worship
• A young person willing to speak up for his Spiritual needs
• A young person giving this old Chaplain a lesson I needed

How hungry are you to worship? How hungry am I to worship? 

10.17.2024

I have enrolled in my last Professional Military Education course. It is a Master's level course entitled "Air War College." This will be my 3rd PME course and I am not looking forward to it. The first 2 were very difficult and I have not heard good things about AWC.

This leaves me in a funk. I want to do this course (I can't get promoted without it) but I got a bad attitude about it...

I always told my sons, "well, it is YOUR attitude...it is totally up to you what YOUR attitude is."

I need to listen to my own advice, but I just don't wanna...

Stay tuned. I have until Oct. 17, 2024 to get it completed.

All or Nothing Marriage

I am reading a book that we will potentially make available for our married (or plan to be) Airmen at the 181st. It is called "The All or Nothing Marriage" by Eli J. Finkel. Excellent stuff.

If you want (or know of someone that you think could benefit from) an enlightening easy to read history of marriage and make that history means for marriages in the 21st century, this is it! It also is a huge wake up call in how we have shifted our understanding of what makes for a good spouse.

In my Grandparents generation on the farm a "good" spouse meant that the husband knew how to plow a field to make dinner grow and that the wife knew how to cook that food so they survived, period!

Today it is much more about a spouse empowering the other to grow into their full mature version of themselves.

Great read. Would make a great gift (along with healthy discussion) with any couple thinking about getting married AND for any couple wanting a "tune up" in their current marriage.

 

USAF Chaplaincy 101

What do I do as a USAF Chaplain?

I am glad you asked! Formally, I do 3 things:

1) Religious support

• ensure 1st Amendment rights of free exercise of religion (for those that have a religion) 
• provide direct religion support (i.e. lead Protestant worship, provide Christian Baptism and Communion, Christian teaching, etc.)
• provide for direct religion support by other means (such as finding resources to help someone practice their religion). This means if I can't do it myself, then it is up to me to find someone who can. Leading a non-Protestant worship service is probably the best example. In that case, I would reach out to bring in a leader within that tradition to lead that service (such as a Catholic or Muslim service). 

2) 100% confidential counseling

•  Chaplains and our Religious Affairs Airmen (use to be called "Chaplain Assistants") are the only one in all of Department of Defense that has a no-kidding, rock solid 100% confidential agreement with whomever we counseling. The "privilege communication" belongs to the person sharing not me. This is a very powerful thing on many levels.

• I am not a professionally credentialed counselor, but what I have been trained on is crisis intervention that is the first step of many. After my initial session with an Airmen, I will make sure they have the long term follow up care they need. 

3) Advising Leadership

• I am an Officer so that means I have access to all Commanders to be able to tell them trends I am hearing (paying attention to maintaining 100% confidentiality). And yes, I have told a Commander or two what I thought based on what I am hearing. I have yet to have a Commander not listen to me and appreciate my perspective.

Comprehensive Airmen Fitness

      

What you are looking at is official USAF doctrine. It states that uniform members of the USAF cannot be fit without holding these four things in tension ("tension" is different than "balance" but that is a whole different post).


Notice the pillars: mental, social, physical and spiritual...that last pillar is my "lane" as a Chaplain.
The definition of "spiritual" is "that which brings you meaning and purpose." Of course for a Christian that means that Jesus Christ is the One that brings Kent Lundy my ultimate meaning and purpose. But since I live and serve in a pluralistic environment, "spiritual" means different things to different Airmen. My job is to make sure all those that need it, get my help staying grounded in their meaning and purpose.

Shadow by the Moon

The Moon casts a shadow that is undeniable.

Let that sink in for a bit...how can an object that does not produces its own light cast enough light to make shadows??

All by reflecting the Sun.

As my wife would say, "that will preach!"

How is my life at reflecting the Son? Does the Light of the World so radiate from my life, actions, attitudes and legacy that I can't help but leave shadows everywhere I go?

What about you? How is the reflection of the Son in your world?

Page to Person

This past Sunday, I led a Protestant worship service and talked about the promise that God made to Jeremiah that a day would come that the Covenant would be embodied in a person.

I led a discussion (it was a small group) about the difference between when something is written down verses when something is lived out in a person.

Of course, we know Jesus Christ as the "new Covenant"...the new way God relates to humanity. What a powerful thing it is for our God to get up close and personal with us in the person of Jesus!

But wait there's more!!! When we pour ourselves out in Love--the way Jesus did for us--we get to live out and extend that Covenant to others.

What does the Covenant look like in your life?

SCIF

As you know, I can't talk about what I see when I am preforming my duties in the Top Secret areas of the 181st, known as a "SCIF."

For those interested, I can point you here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensitive_Compartmented_Information_Facility

This is more general information and history of my Unit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/181st_Intelligence_Wing#targetText=The%20181st%20Intelligence%20Wing%20(181,Intelligence%2C%20Surveillance%20and%20Reconnaissance%20Agency.

This is our public site for the 181st:

https://www.181iw.ang.af.mil/Home/Welcome/

Now that I have been in our SCIFs, I can tell that I get to work with some amazingly smart people that do amazing things around the world around the clock for our freedom.

I am honored, humble and grateful to work with the outstanding Airmen of the 181st.

Perspective

I was able to slip home for a bit recently. Soon after my arrival I was presented a "honey do" list. My first thought (don't judge, this is a confession) was, "I am deployed, I shouldn't have to do that stuff."

Then I came to my senses (much like the Prodigal Son) and then said to myself, "You FOOL, you know you would have given all the money in the world to slip home from your previous deployments and do double that list!"

Perspective is a powerful teacher.

Perspective is a powerful gateway to become more grateful.

I happily finished her list...

Beyond Terre Haute?

I have been asked if there is a possibility that I might have to forward deploy to somewhere beyond Terre Haute.

No.

The full time Federal mission at the 181st is not going anywhere and neither will I this coming year.

Purple Envelopes

I started a tradition for each deployment to ensure that Marti would receive a weekly, hand delivered, card/note/expression of my love. I prepared these before I left and lined up different people to make the deliveries.

They arrive in a purple (her favorite color) envelope each week. During my last deployment one week's message was a no kidding personal phone call from the Secretary of the Air Force. There is a lot more to that story that includes a very unhappy wife and a commanding Chaplain that was not very happy with me either.

Round three has begun and I have gone back to the basics and combined two great things: Marti's love of puzzles and my love of her.

When/if you see Marti, ask her how she likes this round of her weekly purple envelopes.

They said they liked my homework!!!!!!!

As previously mentioned, I am opening one CUMC card a day. Today's card was very lovely (as they all are in their own way).

But this person went out of their way to say how much they appreciated me assigning homework and the type of homework I am assigning!!!

How about that????

I get to serve with some amazing people.

August, 1988

In one fashion or another, I have been expected to be in worship virtually every Sunday since I became under the appointment of my first Bishop in Winfield, KS in August, 1988. That is a long time and it just means I am getting old!

It also means I really missed worshipping with "my" folks today.

Here are some things I am especially missing today (in no particular order):

• Open Communion...no "preferred" seating; all are on equal ground when feasting at the Lord's Table
• The faithfulness of servants that make worship happen...like musicians (both 8:15 and 10:30); ushers, greetings, Liturgists...
• The generosity of givers of their time and money  
• Sunday School teachers 
• The steady participation of folks that show up...NO MATTER WHAT!!
• High fives from the children 
• Those getting out of the "boat" of complacency and realizing that if the Kingdom is going to be built on their watch, it means sacrifice and blessing
• My preaching...before you judge me, hear me out. I love the art of preaching (I still have a lot to learn in order to prefect that art) and I missed not being in the pulpit today. Yes, I led a short informal worship service today at the 181st, but I didn't preach. 
• Leaving Church better than when I arrived

What do you miss when you miss going to Church? 

O-5

I had the honor of being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel yesterday. When I was promoted to Major in 2013, Josh and Nathan pined on my oak leaves. I made a promise to Marti that she could do one of my leaves with the next rank.

Because I was notified last minute, Marti was able to flex her plans and came down Friday night so she could be at the ceremony early Saturday morning.

An added bonus was that we both stayed in my 9X12 efficiency apartment. It was a little cramped with both of us there, so I had to go outside anytime I wanted to change my mind! 

I am honored to wear the O-5 rank. I still have to look down at my uniform to make sure it is real. This has been a long dream of mine. I certainty didn't get here alone and am grateful for all the support that was put into my getting new oak leaves.

Read in

I spent this morning getting all the "dos" and "don'ts" and the reasons behind it all related to my Top Secret security clearance. It was a lot of information to take in. It comes down to attention to detail and having the situational awareness to know what you are doing and what information you are in charge of.

One thing that stood out was that even after I retire (or any other reason I won't need access to our TS mission here) the commitment I made today will last until my death. I will literally carry with me to the grave the things I will see and experience while supporting the Intelligence mission of the 181st.

All that to say, I have been fully "spun up" and all I need to know to gain full access to "the floor" where the Sensor Operators do their thing. I will get out there early this week.

One a day...

I have chosen to spread out the love by only opening one card a day. It is a part of my devotions to remind me what a generous God I serve by witnessing the generosity of God's people called CUMC!

Wow, I am blest and I have only opened 4 cards!!!

Stay the Course

I have been hitting the gym everyday for some time now, but I don't seem to see any visible results. Muscles aren't getting bigger and my waist is not getting any smaller.

Should I give up if I don't see immediate results? Why bother if I can't tell I am making progress?

No! As my friends in recover would say, "get your butt in the door and your heart will follow."

There is power in the process of getting to the gym even (and especially) when there doesn't seem to be progress. I know the habits will pay dividends eventually. I can't give up now or I will never get to my ultimate fitness goals.

The same is true for Spiritual fitness. Our praying, studying, serving, worshiping may not produce immediate results, but that is where Faith comes in.  We have a hope in things yet unseen.

I believe God honors good effort. I believe God is especially fond of perseverance (think Israelites in the desert; Jesus week of passion/death; the fits and starts of the early Church).

Hang in there...never give up. Your future self will thank the today self for staying the course.

PT Failure

It seemed like a good idea at the time...a lot of great stories begin that way right??

It seemed like a good idea to go ahead and do my physical fitness text early while I was still on my first deployment. What could go wrong?

Running outside in February in Germany...no problem!

Having no time to actually prepare for the test...who cares?

Caring the weight of all the stress and strain of the deployment...big deal!

As you can guess...I failed my PT test in Germany, in the winter, at the end of a very stressful deployment.

Having to stand in the Commander's office as soon as I returned to my home unit and try to explain why I failed was not fun.

I made a decision in his office that day to never do that again. I am happy to report that that failure is my only one.

My plan to never let this happen again is based on a Muhammad Ali quote, "champions are not made in the ring, they are only recognized there." I can't wait to get in the "ring" of the PT test having never conditioned before that moment.

I run everyday. Now that I am in a deployed environment that has access to a well stocked gym with 24 hour access, I have no excused not to train.

No more waiting to the last minute. Tomorrow's success begins with training today.

Now that IS a good idea at the time!!