Next time, when you see geese heading south for the winter,
flying in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has
discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it
creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a
"V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater
flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community
can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are
travelling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the
drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into
formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation
with those people who are heading the same way we are.
When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing
and another goose flies point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether
with people or with geese flying south.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep
up their speed.
What message do we give when we honk from behind?
Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or
is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out
with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with
the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do
they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their
own group.
If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other
like that.
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