Wild geese can fly great distances. They are very good swimmers, practice unity and are vegetarian. Geese are very robust and have few needs. When it comes to self-protection, they are tops. During brooding times when geese are weak and vulnerable their sense of communality and togetherness is particularly strong. Whoever ventures near nesting geese risks an attack Geese defy individualism.

Wild geese can fly 600 to 800 kilometers a day as they migrate south for the winter months. While crossing over water from Iceland to Scotland they do not stop for rest. Though this seems almost impossible the geese accomplish this feat by resorting to their famous formation flying.

Flying in a “v” they conserve energy and keep their heart rate low. Their flight must be quiet and their pace even. Anything that causes stress increases their energy output and heightens the risk of “running out of gas” and being forced to the ground.

The aerodynamics of their formation flying is the secret behind their accomplishments in the air. The bird near the back conserves energy. The lead goose must be strong. It determines the speed and directs navigation.

Flying in front – that is, assuming responsibility – usually means facing the greatest resistance. But without someone to assume this responsibility nothing can be accomplished.

Each formation needs a number of experienced lead geese, who take their turn at the front, rotating back after five or ten minutes so as not to play out.

As the lead bird tires it sends a signal to the others – usually a call – so that the next one can take over “the helm”.

It would appear that geese do not possess a false sense of pride. They know they need the team. Indeed, over time no one can manage everything alone.

So as the next lead bird assumes its position at the front the tired goose drops back near the rear to recoup and regain strength. And those who have flown in this quiet zone for a while move forward, ready to again take over the grunt work.

When one comes to the end of one’s strength a time out is as precious as gold. The biblical principal of a free day each week is important not only for those who carry a lot of responsibility and work at stressful jobs. This principle applies to CEOs and mothers alike.

Back to the flying geese. If one cannot keep up at all two other birds will drop back with it and remain on the ground to help and protect. They remain behind until the struggling goose has regained its strength and can fly again, or until it dies. Geese teach us to be thoughtful of one another, to look after each other and to help when need arises.

If, at the end, all the geese flying in formation arrive unscathed at their destination it is because of their incredible, selfless communal thinking.

We can learn a lot from God’s creatures in flight:

• If people en route to the same destination would support each other like the geese do they would arrive sooner and expend less energy getting there.
• If people would take turns with the really hard stuff as geese in flight do, work could be done much easier. And there would be fewer burnouts, less illness and not as many folk giving up along the way.

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