Fall is perhaps
my favorite of the seasons. The air
changes. Sweatshirts and jeans replace
t-shirts and shorts. The world is
enhanced by the rust, the red, and the gold of trees changing from their usual
green. Leaves float from above
to the ground below. There is peace, quiet, stillness. The sounds of fall
are familiar to us. The crunch of leaves
on the ground as we walk. The honk of
geese overhead as they fly south to escape the cold.
The next time
you see geese flying overhead, stop what you’re doing and look up. (Actually, stopping to look up is a good
thing, geese or not, but that is for a future post.) You’ll see the familiar ‘flying V’
formation. But take the time to really
watch and listen.
First of all,
you’ll hear the familiar ‘honk’ of the geese.
Did you know that the ‘honk’ comes from the geese behind the leader and it
is a call of encouragement to the leader at the point of the v? Geese recognize the need to encourage and
support one another. They do this
naturally, almost spontaneously. When
the lead goose gets tired, he or she falls back and another takes its place at
the point. Geese recognize that one
leader isn’t enough, especially if the journey is long. It takes more than one or two to lead and as
they fly along honking their support of one another, they take turns
leading. They just seem to know. They don’t ask for help or support. They just seem to give it naturally. When one of the geese is sick or injured, it
drops to the ground. But remarkably, it
is never by itself. The sick or injured
goose is joined by two others who will stay with it until it is healthy and can
fly again. When it is ready, the three
join another flying v and take off.
Geese seem to know when they need to help, to protect, and they
naturally care for one another. And,
they don’t ask for permission to join another group flying in the v
formation. They join in and are
accepted. As they fly along in this new
v formation, they take up a honk of encouragement and take turns at the
point. They just seem to know. They accept and are accepted. They encourage. They protect and care for one another. They take turns leading when one is tired.
Simple,
unsophisticated creatures geese are. I
suppose you can argue that they aren’t very intelligent. I mean, they can’t construct bridges or
buildings, solve equations, or come up with magical cures for disease or
illness. They can’t repair power lines
when they’re down or install cable TV to homes.
They can’t drive a car or work a computer.
But . . .
It doesn’t take
a scientist to understand the simplicity and beauty of geese, to marvel at
their instinct, at what comes natural to them.
Their understanding that it takes more than one to lead. Their understanding of the importance of
encouragement. Their care and compassion
for a sick or injured brother or sister.
And, their willingness to join in and the acceptance they are shown by
their brethren.
Perhaps we can
learn from geese. Perhaps we should
learn from geese. In our homes. In our place of work. With each other. Honk if you agree. (a smile)
Something to think about . . .
Your article about the Geese was absolutely beautiful and so worth reading. We humans could learn a lot from these beautiful creatures of God, if we did our world would be a better place! God Bless. Pastor Janet Fears
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