How Would You Like to Define Fear?

Week 23

How Would You Like to Define Fear?

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      1.   Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said the measure of

            a civilization is the increased number of tasks it can 

            perform without thinking.

      2.   For my part, I’m on record for saying truly superior

            executives are so good they don’t know it.

      3.   Have you noticed that the more you talk about doing

            something, the less likely it is that you will ever do it?

      4.   There are times, though, plenty of them, when the heat’s

            on and everybody knows it.

      5.   That’s when even the expert is scared, make no

            mistake.

      6.   Even though she comes through it, seemingly without

            effort, we see the act itself—courage in isolation—is what

            upholds.

      7.   That is not for the newcomer, no matter how talented; it

            comes, even if she be young, from night-sleeping in the

            swamp.

Routine

The night video shows

the fear and courage

seeped clear through the

sophisticated maneuvering

of fliers being guided,

landing their planes

in a rough sea.

Swells abrupt and high

from an angry host

can send the massive carrier

bobbing like a match stick

just as an aircraft with its pilot—

skilled as a old weaver—

makes its final approach.

Tense faces chewing gum,

compensatory laughter

and wondering eyes

make up the pinpoint soul

of the navigation quarters.

Cheers erupt when the

safe landing occurs, perhaps

after an aborted attempt

or two, to avoid

crashing into the ship

in a fierce upswing.

The pilot descends

to friends below,

takes of his headgear,

big smile—astounding to

me—his baby face,

holds up a hand, shaking,

says, still smiling,

“most scared I’ve

ever been in my life.”

© 2012 Allan Cox, Allan Cox & Associates Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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