Searching back for wisdom lessons, there is one that stands out for me. Experiencing pure love and learning what community really is, I only had to look to the Goose.
I experienced an event back in 2001 that changed me forever. And today I still have a deep respect for geese because of it. I was standing in front of my business speaking with a friend when two geese flew by honking up a storm. As I looked up one of them hit an electric wire and broke his neck. He crashed to the ground with a thud. I ran over to see if there was anything I could do. Sadly there wasn’t. It was around noon as I recall. I did however clean up and made the appropriate calls to see what to do next..
What I experienced next was amazing. His mate, too scared to come into our parking lot, had landed about 150 feet away in a vacant lot and was calling out for her “husband”. She did not stop that day. When we closed up at 7:00 pm she was still there calling out. Frantic crying out. I experienced real, pure, unwashed love that day. I’m a big manly man and I cried like a baby. It’s funny how real love has that effect. Now 12 years later it is still burned into my mind. Are we really the superior beings? This made me wonder. As I watch families torn apart, and children used as pawns in the “Divorce game” I wonder a lot.
I found something about geese that I thought I’d pass along. It was written anonymously. It turns out there are other areas of life where they are ahead of us humans. Love and teamwork, the two most important arenas of our lives have been overshadowed by these majestic birds. Enjoy reading these life lessons.
Lessons From Geese
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community 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 bird immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to the others).
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 share leadership with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.
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 encouraging and not something else.
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out, either with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese we too will stand by each other in difficulty until we are strong.
I want to love and be loved like a goose loves. That doesn’t sound so silly any more.
This moved me beyond words. Thank you!
That day touched me deeply