Waun Lessons from Geese
Lessons From Geese
By The Rev. Renee Waun, Unitarian Universalist Church
POSTED: September 15, 2007
Now is the season when we begin to see those magnificent “V” shaped formations of geese that fly across the sky, inviting us to imagine the journey they are about to embark upon. I remember watching a flock of these Canadian geese practicing for their departure in a small pond one autumn day.
First one goose and then another would take off, circle the pond and then return skidding across the surface of the water, almost as if they were holding auditions to see which goose would be the best one to lead the formation.
I was saddened to learn of the capture and euthanizing of 272 Canadian geese in North Park near Pittsburgh recently, because they were said to be a public nuisance and health hazard. I remember the time I was picnicking by the little lake at North Parkand watched as several dozen of these same geese paddled over to the shore, shook off their feathers and started marching up the grassy hill to cross the busy street that encircles the lake.
As I saw them waddling up toward the pavement, I was suddenly worried, because there were a lot of cars quickly approaching that section of the road and I didn’t know if the drivers could see the approaching troupe that was hardly visible through the high grass.
So, I hurried over and started directing traffic in order that the honking parade could cross to safety. I’m embarrassed now when I think of it, because this flock of geese had lived all summer long on that pond and probably did that same trek every day, managing to do just fine without me! I guess I must have had some unchecked control needs, or perhaps an exaggerated sense of self-importance at the time. At any rate, I was going to “save the geese!” I wonder what the drivers of those cars must havethought?
We can learn a lot from geese. I once had an inspirational poster hanging on my office wall that spelled out the many lessons that we humans can learn from geese (not so much when they are swimming or ambling about, but when they are flying).
For example, by flying in a “V” formation a flock of geese adds 71 percent greater flying uplift than if each bird flew alone.
What could the lesson be for us? I think it is that people who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. If we happen to fall out of formation, it benefits us to get back into the “V,” in a spirit of interdependence.
How often have we struck off on our own while doing church work, thinking that by doing something ourselves we can do it better or faster? This might work some of the time, but it promotes a maverick style of leadership rather than a team spirit.
Another example from the geese is that when the lead goose gets tired it rotates back and another goose flies into the point position.
What could the lesson be for church people? Perhaps it is that it pays to take turns doing the hard task and sharing of leadership, relying on one another’s skills and abilities.
This is especially true in those situations where the same people seem to be the ones doing all the work, which is a sure recipe for burnout. It’s important to know when you are tired and ready to let someone else take a turn for awhile. Sometimes this is a hard lesson, for those who are unwilling or reluctant, to turn over leadership to the newer members of the church.
So now the geese are giving us some inspiration. Congregations have sometimes been described as a herd of cats, and now perhaps, a flock of geese.
But whatever image we use, it is important to try to be a group that does indeed know and appreciate the value of sharing and relying on one another’s skills and abilities.
This fall, when we happen to see geese formations flying overhead, let’s remember the lessons of interdependence they model for us, and as we get into the high-tilt time on our calendars that we call the “program year,” let us try to soar our way into a marvelous experience of interdependence and sharing, as we do ministry together in the greater community!