LESSONS FROM GEESE
By: Milton Olson

1. As each bird flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the bird
following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater
flying range than if the bird flew alone.

LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get
where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling o the
thrust 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.

LESSON: If we have sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those
who are headed 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.

LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.
With people, as with geese, we are interdependent on one another.

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

LESSON: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging — and
not something else.

5. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of
formation and follow it down and protect it. They stay with it until it’s
able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another
formation, or to catch up with the flock.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as geese we, too, will stand by each other
in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

(The original source of the above material is unknown.)

Christian Information Network