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When you see geese flying along in "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 "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 traveling
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 as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with
those people who are headed 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 messages 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 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 group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will
stand by each other like that.
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