The Sense Of A Goose?

 

I thought it kind of early in the year and was surprised to see the Purple Martins reclaiming their house evicting the wintering sparrows. As the first day of spring fast approaches bird migration is in full flight. Still the most fascinating is the flight of the goose and their familiar “V” formation. It’s been learned that as each bird flaps its large wings, the movement of air creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds an estimated 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get to where they are going quicker and easier when they 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 generated by the other birds. If we had as much sense as a goose we would join in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates into the formation and another goose takes its place at the point where the wind resistance is the greatest. It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership with people, as with geese, interdependent with one another. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging – not something less helpful. Finally, if a goose gets sick, or injured, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member to the ground to help and provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, joining another formation or catching up with their own flock. If we have as much sense as a goose, we also would stand by another in perilous times.

[Romans 12] The Holy Spirit has seen to it that we have a clear understanding of how the church is to function in unity. Paul penned the word “body” more than thirty times to illustrate the functioning church. In his letters to different congregations, he uses a Greek word translated “one another” 40 times. There are at least 12 actions that Christians are to practice included in the concept of “one another” in order to build up the body of Christ. “…so we, though many, are on body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12: 10). “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16). I encourage each of us to think about our “one another” treatment of our fellow man, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. An individual Christian cannot function efficiently by their self. We are indeed as the church, “members of one another”. No member should say, “I don’t need you.” (“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).) We all need each other. No member of Christ’s body should feel more important than another member. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). We should all work hard at creating unity in the body of Christ. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Do we have the sense of a Goose, that no matter we are being socially injured, we remain united in our goal to be faithful to God’s Word and the hope of everlasting life with Him?