This week’s thoughts came as I was cleaning out some old files. Still worth considering today.
When you see geese flying in a “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing that science has discovered why they fly that way. Research has revealed that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. (People who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on one another’s thrust.)
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. (If we as people have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation and so will those who are headed the same way we are.) When the lead goose gets tired, the goose rotates back in the “V” and another goose moves forward. (It pays to take turns doing hard jobs.)
The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep us their speed. (Encouragement can be important key to success!)
And finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunfire and falls out, two other geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly again or if it cannot, then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group. (If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.)
-Adapted from Tom Worsham, “Are You a Goose?” The Arizona Surveyor, 1992 as quoted in John Maxwell, Developing the Leaders Around You, (Injoy Inc. 1995)
Grace and peace,
Pastor Steve