Geese Encouragement

LESSONS from GEESE and their V FORMATIONS
By John Tesh

OK- your standard flock of geese may not be the first idea you come up with when searching for inspiration...well, geese may very well not make it into any idea you have in seeking life's lessons.  They're pretty dirty, noisy and all.  Fair enough, but just for kicks, let's see what we can learn from THE GOOSE.  You may be surprised.

1.  Fact:  As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow.  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater 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.

2.  Fact:  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.  It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage 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, too.  We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

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

Lesson:  It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.  Like geese, we are interdependent on one another's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, knowledge or resources.

4.  Fact:  Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to maintain the speed.  

Lesson:  We need to make sure our honk 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.

5.  Fact:  When a goose becomes ill, or is wounded and going down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.  They stay with their fallen comrade until it dies, or is able to fly again.  Then they launch out with another formation 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.

It's called "teamwork", my dear friend.  And think about it:  what places or situations could this encouraging teamwork spirit work for you?  Work- I bet.  School?  Of course!  Your spiritual center committee?  Absolutely!  How about your neighborhood, or as close to home as family members.  Give a honk to those in your life you care about today! 

From John Tesh blog