One of Mom's favorite stories - the Geese

Another treasure uncovered in Mom's lit:

A Lesson from the Geese - honking on the back pew of the church

‘The next time you see geese heading south for the winter flying in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it  creates an uplift for the bird immediately following it.  By flying in a "V" formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

Christians who share a common direction and a sense of unity can get where they are travelling on the thrust and uplift of one another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the draft and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the uplifting power of the bird immediately in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates to the back of  the formation and another goose takes the lead.

It pays to take turns doing hard jobs with others at church, as with geese flying south.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.  What do we say when we honk from behind? ...

Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it.  They stay with the wounded goose until it is able to fly again, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation, to catch up with their original group.  If people knew we would stand by them like that in the church, they would push down the walls to get in.’

That is the image that we, as a fellowship, would always want to project?  …. And that is precisely what we are striving to do!     We are a congregation, led by the Holy Spirit, (symbolized in Celtic theology as a ‘Wild Goose’) in the direction, God wants us to journey in faith; always seeking, as a team, to share our God-given gifts and talents - encouraging one another; caring for the weak, and displaying our togetherness in Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul put it this way:  ‘Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you.  You have fellowship with the Spirit and you have kindness and compassion for one another.  I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind.  Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble towards one another, always considering others better than yourselves.  And look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.  The attitude that you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had.’  (Philippians 2:1)