Prayer for a Silly Goose
by Me
Why do we call geese silly?
Oh, I know we can tease children by calling them a silly goose in fun. And sure. geese are comically ungainly in their gait
on the ground and seriously noisy in their discussions. I had to wait on the street one day while two were having a raucous discussion across the white line and I was trying to pull into a driveway. I beeped and they stopped, looked at me, and promptly went right back. After a time, I very slowly let the car drift forward and they finally, unhappily, moved but never stopped their "discussion!"
This morning was sunny and clear as they were winging across the sky
honking encouragement to each other. The V-formation is beautiful in its
symmetry and its purpose. Instinctive, normal, practical. Geese
travel together and when one can't go or falls from the formation because
of illness or injury, two stay behind to help, to care, to be there until
the downed bird can fly again or dies. Then the trio or pair join
another passing formation. The
leader leads for a time flying just above the others to increase lift and
reduce the effort of the flock. Then the leader moves to the
back of the formation and another leads for a time and then moves to the back
of the formation, and so on until the destination is reached. Everyone
takes a turn to lead. Everyone works together for the good of the entire
flock. Hmmm, if only Humans would be better at that.
Dear Lord,
help me be a reliable part of the flock I'm in, taking my turns
to lead and to fall back. Give me extra grace to be thankful for
those who stop to care for me and to be even more willing to stay on the
ground to help another. Geese make me
look silly ~ in formation and leadership they are a model of Your vision for
the rest of us. Of course like the rest of us they can be unruly and very
messy! Yet my prayer is for the awareness of the lessons
of interconnectedness and interdependence that You provide in each
and every part of Your Creation. amen.
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