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IN RETROSPECT Look At The Birds Of The Air…(Matt 6:26) By James F. Jennings
Conference Council on Ministries Director
It has been said that as geese flap their wings they
create an uplift for the birds following. By flying in a “V” formation, the
whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if any bird were to fly alone. If we
share a common direction and a sense of community, we can get where we’re going more
quickly and easily because we are traveling on the thrust of one another.
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 goose immediately in front. If we have as much acumen as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go, and we will be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position. If we take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership, as with the geese, we become dependent on each other. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. If we “honk,” we need to make sure it is encouraging.
When a goose gets sick or wounded or is 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. They then launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock.
If we have as much savvy as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong. Let us all try to fly in formation in 1999 and remember to drop back to help those who might need it!
(The author of the lessons from the geese is Milton Olson, a naturalist.)
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