Fall is in the air. We can feel the cooler temperatures as we open windows and air out the house. Cozy sweatshirts, splashes of red and golden leaves, and the honking of geese as they begin their migrations south. I have shared the following Lessons often over the years ~ it's time to post again. May the Lessons encourage you in exactly the place that needs to be touched. Every growing!
Lessons from the Geese
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the bird following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common vision and sense of purpose can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join in formations 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 and sharing leadership. Just like the geese, teamwork and shared responsibility are vital to our success.
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 only encouraging and nothing less. It is amazing what positive reinforcement can accomplish.
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help and provide protection. They stay with the member of the flock until he or she is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, join another formation, or they catch up with their own flock.
Lesson: If we have as much compassion as the geese, we'll stand by one another like they do.
During hunting season when taking off in the morning small bands of geese will deliberately fly low to draw the gunfire of hunters so the remainder of the flock can safety fly away.
Lesson: We need to demonstrate the same courage as the geese when it is our opportunity to help.