Lessons from Geese

Fall is my most favorite season of the year. I love the autumn colors, crispness in the air, and the sounds of the geese flying south. This morning I was asked to do worship at the Lansing church school and I shared with the students lessons we can learn from the geese. Like them, we are all on a journey – a journey to Heaven. They can teach us a lot on how we can help each other get there. I hope you enjoy the following:

FACT 1:

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation,the whole flock has at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on it's own.

LESSON:

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. As we journey to heaven, we need to surround ourselves with those who are also headed there. David wrote, “I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.” Psalm 119:63.

FACT 2:

When a goose flies 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 in front of it.

LESSON:

If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others. It is harder to do something alone than together. We will also recognize that God has placed spiritual leaders over us to help us stay in the heavenly path. We will both accept and appreciate their counsel and correction. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

FACT 3:

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose flies to the point position.

LESSON:

It is sensible to take turns doing the hard and demanding tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent of each others skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources. 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that we are all part of the body of Christ and are dependent on each other. No one has all gifts. We must share the gifts God has given us with each other and thus help each other to reach full completeness in Christ.

FACT 4:

The geese flying in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

LESSON:

We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement is the quality of honking we seek. We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not discouraging. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29.

FACT 5:

When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two other geese will drop out of formation with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their flock.

LESSON:
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as in good! We will be there for each other, supporting and caring. If one falls under temptation, we will seek to restore that one remembering that we also have fallen (Galatians 6:1). By sticking together, we can help each other to grow in the Lord and then together complete our journey to our heavenly home. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10.


Friends, I hope that you find in me someone that has helped you on your spiritual journey to the kingdom. And I pray that you will encourage others in the same way.