Flying in formation – Galatians 6:2

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Have you ever seen a flock of geese flying in a  V?  I am sure you have.

It is amazing how and why they do what they do.  And we can learn some things from God’s creation (just as He told us we could – Romans 1:20) that can help us to demonstrate the unity and humility that our Lord and Savior Jesus Himself showed.

And in doing so we can fulfill the law of Christ.

How?

The lead goose has the hardest job.  He gets the headwind first.  The further back in the formation a goose is flying the less effort they need to exert because of the “draft” (for you NASCAR fans) that is coming from the geese in front of them. 

There is some speculation that the “honks” you hear from the geese are both motivational – like the guy calling out “stroke!” on a boat – and informational.  The geese are in constant communication to see when the front geese are tiring.

And when it gets too much for the lead goose… he drops back in the formation and lets another goose that is rested take the lead so that he can get some rest.

If no goose is rested enough… they land.  They take some time off to refuel.

In the body of Christ we often put large expectations on the lead goose…

We expect them not to tire.

We “honk”… but not to motivate… or to communicate… but to gripe and complain and gossip and etc…

And another interesting thing about the geese is this… if one of the geese gets sick or injured or over tired… and it drops from formation to land… another goose always goes down with it.

Because the journey is too hard to make alone.

And that goose will stay there until the other is ready to fly.  Even until it dies.

These geese know how to bear one another’s burdens.  They get why Jesus sent them out “two by two” (Mark 6:7). 

Isn’t interesting that both sheep and geese form flocks?

Fly in formation.  Speak only encouragement to the one at the head of your flock.  Do what you can to see that they are rested.  And help the others as well.  Fly with them. 

The only way the flock of geese could make it the distance they need to go during migration is to fly together…

And it is the same with us.

SDG