A Lesson From Geese 

Fact No. 1: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift draft for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds a greater flying range than if one bird flew alone.

Lesson No. 1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they're going quicker and more easily because they are traveling on the strength of one another.

Fact No. 2: Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

Lesson No. 2: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation, accept help when we need it and give help when it is needed.

Fact No. 3: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose flies in the point position.

Lesson No. 3: Geese instinctively share the task of leadership and do not resent the leader.

Fact No. 4: The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson No. 4: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not something else.

Fact No. 5: When a goose gets sick, is wounded or is shot down, two geese drop out of formation to help protect it. They stay with their disabled companion until it is able to fly again or dies.

Lesson No. 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by one another in difficult times.

Lessons from the Geese, was written in 1972 by Dr Robert McNeish of Baltimore. DrMcNeish, for many years a science teacher before he became involved in school administration, had been intrigued with observing geese for years and first wrote the piece for a sermon he delivered in his church.