Lesson: People who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust on one another.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the draft and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go.
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks; sharing the leadership with people, as with geese, interdependent upon each other.
The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging - not something less helpful.
When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with the fallen goose until it is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation or to catch up with their flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as the geese, we'll stand by each other like that and them.
S&F
Ricahrd F. La Flame
Master Grizzly Lodge # 601 F. & A. M. - Portola, California
Worthy Patron - Mt. View Chapter # 552 - O.E.S. - Janesville, California