September 2010 | A GOOSE SENSE!
In Christian fellowship, many lessons we can learn from geese. Every fall, you may have the pleasure of watching geese flying south for the winter. It's a beautiful sight to observe their "V" formation (or "L" shape as seen from a different angle, we would say) in action as they go by. Scientists have discovered that by flying in a V formation, the whole flock of geese can adds at least a 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
It was also discovered that when a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feel the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose get tired, he or she rotates back and another goose flies point. It's a beautiful picture of cooperation and helping each other out.
You may have also noticed that there's a lot of honking going on to encourage the leader. It's also a signal to keep up to speed. When a goose gets sick or is wounded by a gunshot and falls out the formation, two other geese will also fall out of formation to follow the wounded goose to help and protect the weak bird. They will stay with the wounded bird until it is either able to fly or until it is dead, and then they launch on their own or with another formation to catch up with their original group.
Christians who share a common direction can get where they are going because they can travel on the thrust of one another. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going. It pays to take turns doing the hard jobs with people at fellowship. If people knew we would stand by them in the our fellowship, like geese do, they would push down our doors to get in.
All we have to do to attract people is, demonstrate to the world that we are one in bond of love. Jesus reminds us, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35.
Brothers and sisters, we hope everyone of us have as much sense as a goose in our fellowship!
(Adapted from "Lessons from Geese" by Robert Strand) |