Have you ever wondered why migrating geese fly in a V formation?  As with most animal behavior, God had a good reason for including that in their instincts.

 

Co-operation
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 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

 

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

 

Unity
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone
…and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

 

Like geese, people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier than those who try to go it alone.

 

Leadership
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.

 

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.

 

Encouragement
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

 

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. Otherwise, it's just... well... honking.

 

Support
When a goose gets sick or wounded, two other geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and provide protection. They stay with the unhealthy member of the flock until it is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out again with another passing flock or try to catch up with their own.

 

If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

 

 

Fascinated by the conduct of flying geese, Dr. Robert McNeish of Baltimore, wrote "Lessons From Geese" for a sermon in his church in 1972. Demonstrating the power of a good idea, his essay spread and has become a classic statement of the importance of teamwork. The above is adapted from his original essay.

The photo is from freckle's photos Flikr album

For an interesting scientific explanation of why birds fly in V formation, see Aerospaceweb.org