Last week, while out to dinner with friends I overheard two women talking about geese and seagulls. It was so busy and loud that I couldn't make out much more of their conversation other than the fact that Geese and Seagulls was to be the topic of the Sunday school lesson the next day.
I was intrigued. I haven't heard this comparison so I decided to investigate. I googled GEESE and I am very glad I did. We can learn a lot from our fine feathered friends.
At first glance, the Seagull is a lovely bird. Big, white and hailed as a hero here in the great state of Utah, seagulls must think they are pretty cool. They seem wonderful. But look closer at how they live and what they do....
They feed on garbage and filth.
If unprotected will eat the young of their fellow seagulls. If they see a gull in the group who looks different, weather it is from a birth defect or simple because their feathers touched up against wet paint, the other seagulls will attack it and kill it. In reality, these birds are nasty, dirty, aggressive, selfish, disgusting birds.
Canadian Geese however, are very different.
At first glance geese are not very attractive. They are short, not very fancy, brown, black and grey. Simply said, they are "plain Jane's". But look closer and you will see a remarkable, wonderful bird. Geese never leave their young unprotected. The male and the female both take turns in fulfilling their duties as parents and even "babysit" other young geese when needed. Not one of the many geese in the group will migrate until all are ready and able to fly.
When they do fly, they fly in the shape of a V with one bird leading the way. The V formation breaks the wind, making flight easier for the others. As soon as the lead bird begins to loose it's strength, another one is ready and steps up to take it's place. Geese take turns leading so no one gets to tired. The beauty of the Canadian Geese is not in what you can see, it is in the way they live their lives.
Fact: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock has at least 71 per cent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
Fact: When a goose flies out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others. It is harder to do something alone than together.
Fact: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It is sensible to take turns doing the hard and demanding tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent of each others skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.
Fact: The geese flying in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek. We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not discouraging.
Fact: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two other geese will drop out of formation with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their flock.
Lesson: If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as in good.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
Fact: When a goose flies out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others. It is harder to do something alone than together.
Fact: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It is sensible to take turns doing the hard and demanding tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent of each others skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.
Fact: The geese flying in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek. We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not discouraging.
Fact: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two other geese will drop out of formation with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their flock.
Lesson: If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as in good.
I have to ask myself, "What kind of bird are you? What group do you fly with?" I'm trying my best, but we all have had moments of being a seagull. All I know for sure, is that I fly with a lot of Geese.
“We are born helpless. As soon as we are fully conscious we discover loneliness. We need others physically, emotionally, and intellectually. We need them if we are to know anything, even ourselves.”
― C.S. Lewis
