My Goose Story

My Goose Story

Next year when you see geese heading south for the winter flying along in vee formation, you might consider what science has determined as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings it creates an up lift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a vee formation the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if the bird had been flying 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 at it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we had as much sense of a goose, we would stay in formation with those who are heading in the same direction as we are.

When a goose gets tired it rotates back in the vee, and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs with people or with geese. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up the speed. What do we say when we honk from behind? Finally, this is the most important. When a goose gets sick or is wounded by gun shots and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follows it down to lend help and to protect it. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly again or until it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own forming their own formation to catch up with their group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other.