Harold Keller / L’Observateur / June 30, 1999

The Christian community, secularists, politicians, teachers, psychologists, etc., are trying to find solutions to the social ills inAmerica. Maybe we should just take a lesson from the geese.The following is an article by Milton Olson which describes things we could learn from geese. I often use it in my talks to various groups.Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds to follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71 percentgreater flying range than if each 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 on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to takeadvantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help andgive our help to others.

Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point formation.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.

As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups wherethere is encouragement, the production is much greater.

Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with ituntil it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with anotherformation or catch up with the flock.

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

Think of how much stronger we, as a community, would be if we acted like a goose.

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher