One of the joys of living anywhere along the Mississippi Flyway between central Canada and the Gulf of Mexico comes twice a year when we who live  here  get to observe the migration of geese.  

            As I watch their comings and goings,  I am reminded of a book that was written nearly 40 years ago by Browne Barr, former dean of the San Francisco Theological Seminary.   It is titled High Flying Geese.   It is, as the subtitle suggests a metaphor for life in the church—  (Unexpected Reflections on the Church and Its Ministry).  I think in these post-election days it could also be a metaphor on how national life should be lived out.

            One of the primary lessons geese can teach us is the concept of flying in formation.  As each bird flaps its wings it contributes lift to the whole flock.    Twenty-five birds flying in formation have a range increase of about 70 percent compared to a single bird flying alone.  Thus, some species of geese have been known to make the 1,700 mile trip from James Bay in Canada to coastal Louisiana in 48 hours. 

            Now I know that no goose ever read Paul’s observation in I Corinthians 12:5 and following (yes, you’re going to have to look it up) but Barr has a couple examples springing from  that passage.  For instance, when one goose gets sick or is wounded by gun shot that goose’s mate will sacrifice its own migratory freedom to tend the fallen one.  Sometimes two other geese will even go down to the ground with the one afflicted and wait with it until it is able to rejoin the flock or dies.

            I saw that ritual played out about four years ago when one of a pair that had nested on ponds flanking my driveway was struck by a car while walking across the county road out front.   Its mate and several goslings that I had enjoyed watching from hatch were gathered on the side of the road around the “victim”, trying, it seemed to me, to make sense out of what had happened and perhaps grieving their loss.  Geese, I have read, mate for life so that scene seemed to make sense in that light.

            Researchers have also noted that when the lead goose gets tired that one rotates back in the “V” and another takes its place.   I have often wondered why we sometimes resist that notion in other aspects of life.

            Bottom line: as Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 12:12 and following (yup, go look that one up, too) the church is a formation and I thank you for continuing to fly with us in these strange times.

In Faith and Friendship,

Delwayne Hahn