Lessons from Geese

The next time you see geese flying south in “V” formation, you might be interested to know that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Christians who share a common direction and sense of community can also get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the uplift of one another. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation. If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the V and another goose flies point. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs with people at church or with geese flying south. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say when we honk from behind? Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly or dead; and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their original group. The geese who helped each other shared. Sharing is both serving and giving. It’s a part of “stewardship.”