The Geese Have It

A. God asks us to hold fast in unswerving loyalty to Christ. We need the encouragement of God’s people to help us become strong and vibrant Christians. Attending church regularly for mutual encouragement is a means of receiving and giving this kind of support.

Have you ever wondered why CANADIAN GEESE fly only in the" V" formation? For years specialists in aerodynamics wondered the same thing. Two engineers calibrated in a wind tunnel what happens in such a “V” formation. Each goose, in flapping his wings, creates an upward lift for the goose that follows. When all the geese do their part in the "V" formation, the whole flock has a 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Each depends upon the other to get to its destination. Let me give you five Lessons on the benefits on encouragement we can learn From Geese.

·      Fact 1: 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 1: 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.

·      Fact 2: 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 in front of it.
Lesson 2: 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.

·      Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.

·      Fact 4: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson 4: 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.

·      Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

Now, let us learn from God's animal creation. The church needs to fly in a spiritual "V" formation, "honking" one another into steadfastness. And it must be at least 71 % easier to live the faithful Christian life flying with the flock as opposed to going it alone.

Instead of forsaking the worship, let us instead encourage one another and all the more so as we “see the Day approaching” (v. 25). Whether it is a day of heightened persecution or it is the last day of history, we need to encourage each other so that we do not cast aside our faith and confidence in the face of severe pressure.

 William Barclay wrote, “It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.”

In this world full of discouragement it is our duty to help people assemble in the house of God and to stir them up to love and ministry. Are you actively involved in encouraging people to assemble themselves in the House of God?

Will you today begin to "Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible”? ~ Cadet Maxim