There is a moment every firefighter eventually experiences—when something that should be simple becomes unnecessarily complicated. We add tools, steps, policies, techniques, and habits until we forget the most obvious solution standing right in front of us.

I was reminded of that recently while watching a video that has made the rounds online. In the clip, a firefighter is struggling to start a saw so he can cut through an exterior gate. He pulls the cord again and again. Time passes. The saw won’t cooperate. Meanwhile, a civilian walks up, looks at the situation, reaches over the fence, and simply opens the gate from the inside. No cutting. No noise. No delay. Problem solved.

It was almost embarrassing to watch—not because the firefighter was incompetent, but because the situation revealed something we all fall into,  forgetting the basics.

Firefighting Basics Still Matter

Firefighting is not complicated because the fundamentals are flawed. It becomes complicated when we stop mastering them.

Size-up still matters.
Forcible entry still starts with checking the door.
Water on the fire still solves most fire problems.
Good positioning, communication, and discipline still win the day.

We love new tools. We embrace new technology. There is nothing wrong with that. But tools are meant to support judgment—not replace it. When we skip the basic question—Is there an easier, safer way?—we risk creating problems instead of solving them.

The civilian in that video wasn’t smarter. He simply saw the situation without layers of assumption. That should humble us.

The Same Drift Happens in Our Faith

The same thing happens in our spiritual lives.

As Catholic firefighters, we can overcomplicate our faith just as easily as our job. We chase the next book, the next devotion, the next podcast, the next argument to win. Meanwhile, the essentials quietly wait for us to return.

-Prayer.
-Sacraments.
-Scripture.
-Humility.
-Obedience.

Christ never complicated the path to holiness. We do.

Jesus reminds us plainly:

“You have one teacher, and you are all brothers.” (Matthew 23:8)

And again:

“Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Just as no saw starts without fuel and spark, no spiritual life functions without a real relationship with Christ.

Returning to the Basics of Worship

Returning to basics does not mean lowering standards. It means strengthening foundations.

-Daily prayer, even if brief and imperfect

-Regular confession, not when convenient, but when necessary

-The Eucharist, received worthily and reverently

-Scripture, read slowly, not skimmed

-Silence, where God actually speaks

The Catechism does not ask us to be theologians first. It asks us to be faithful.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)

Saints Who Lived the Basics Well

The saints were not extraordinary because they complicated things. They were extraordinary because they did ordinary things with discipline and trust.

-Saint Florian — faithful unto death, obedient to duty, unshaken by fear

-Saint Joseph — silent, obedient, steady, and present

-Saint Michael the Archangel — defender against chaos and deception

-Saint Ignatius of Loyola — taught discernment, order, and examination of conscience

Ask them to intercede for you when the noise creeps in—on the fireground and in your soul.

A Final Size-Up

Next time you find yourself frustrated—on a call, in prayer, or in life—pause and ask:

What is the gate here?
What am I trying to force that may already be open?

The basics are not beneath us. They are what keep us alive—physically and spiritually.

As firefighters, we owe it to the public to master our fundamentals.
As Catholics, we owe it to God to return to Him simply, honestly, and without excuses.

Sometimes the most faithful move isn’t pulling harder—it’s stepping back and opening the gate.

Pro Dio et Populo – For God and the People