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Flapping with the Flock

by Jerry Ousley  
4/24/2010 / Christian Living

It's that time of year. Six months ago the geese were flying south. Now they are flying north. I'm always fascinated with that "V" shaped formation that the geese make. They fly with magnificence and they swim with grace, but they walk, or I should say waddle, in a very comical manner.

There's a small lake, more of a big pond, in the middle of the town in which I live. It's got a crowd of geese on it and around it most of the summer. The town has converted what used to be a very ugly eye-sore into a nice park area and I believe sometimes that the geese think that it was cleaned up just for them.

I did some research to find out why these creatures fly in that familiar "V" formation. What I discovered was that the one at the head is doing most of the work. He or she is cutting the air for all the others. As it flaps its wings it is moving air under the goose behind and on either side of it making it easier for it to fly. By spreading out in the "V" shape each goose is doing the same for the goose behind it. This allows them to fly higher, farther and with more ease.

But the head goose tires quickly because it's got the greater load. That's why you'll see them periodically breaking up the "V" and changing position. They take their turn at flying in front so that all get a much needed break. The other thing about the "V" is, have you ever wondered why one leg of the "V" is often longer than the other? That's a good question. There's really only one answer to that: There's more geese on the longer side. I got you with that one didn't I?

The other thing we hear geese doing as they fly is they make their "honking" sound. Their noisy and incessant "honking" let's the goose in front of them know where they are and so they keep their formation tight. It's like they're saying, "Keep going Fred, I'm back here."

While each of us, according to 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, has our own gifts and talents, and our unique service to the Lord, as the Church of Jesus Christ we should take a lesson from the geese. First of all we fly in our formation, keeping it tight. As the leader flaps, cutting the air for the rest of us things go smoothly.

But every leader needs a break. You know, in reality we normally view the Pastor as the leader and he or she should be that. But there is no leader who can continue the hard work of cutting the air for the rest all the time. If they did they would wear out quickly and soon all those behind them would begin wondering, "What's happened to Fred?" He's plain worn out is what has happened. He needs a break! When this occurs if the others flying comfortably behind would say, "Move back Fred, let me take the lead for awhile," wouldn't it make it much easier on everyone? Fred gets a break, and God will use you with your own unique talents, gifts and calling for a time until Fred can once again move to the front of the "V." It works for everyone.

The other thing we should be doing is "honking" out those words of encouragement to the one in front of us. Whether it's good 'ole Fred up front, of the person just ahead of us, or the one who's giving Fred a break, those words of encouragement are gold! We all need to hear them from time to time. We don't want to get the big head from all that encouragement, but knowing that someone has got our back is a valuable part of being a believer in Christ.

So take a lesson from the geese. Let's tighten up that "V" formation in the Church. Let's each learn to take our turn out front, and let's keep "honking" those encouraging words to the one just in front of us. If we do, we'll find ourselves flapping with the flock and there's no limit as to how far we can go! Good 'ole Fred will appreciate it too.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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