Lessons From Geese

This is lifted from a video I saw at church on Saturday (I'm not this creative) and is also online here. Its not exclusively Christian by any means, but we would all certainly benefit if we could remember these lessons in our Christian walk. Plus, I thought it was really cool.

1) As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if one bird flew alone. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the strength of one another.

2) Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are ahead of where we want to go and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.

3) When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position. It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.

4) The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, and not something else.

5) When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again, or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or they catch up with their flock. If we have as much sense as geese do, we too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

Job 12:7-8 is particularly relevant in light of this: "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you."

If only I had the sense of a goose!