The Spirit of a Goose

At the camp we did in a large tent on top of Miracle Mountain in Grangeville, our last session was about the "Spirit of a Goose". The term "silly goose" in our culture is definitely not complementary. No one wants to be called a silly goose! But God has some lessons He wants us to learn from the goose - for instance the "V" shape of their flight formation. By locking just to the back and side of the lead goose, the second geese behind can get extra lift. The third geese in line get even more lift, and so on. This results in geese being able to fly 40% faster and 70% farther as a group than they can as individuals. Backing the leader helps Vision to be accomplished!

The second thing we learn is that this formation, although more efficient, really puts a strain on the lead goose. That's why they rotate the formation, as the lead goose tires the next one behind takes over. This way they don't kill their leader! What a great idea. The entire flock knows the load can't be completely on one to reach their goal. It's a team effort. Ability is less important that availability.

The third thing we learn from the geese is that if one is injured, two others will always fall out of formation with it. They will remain with the injured one until it recovers or dies. Then they will rejoin the next migration. God wants us to support those weaker in the flock - those injured spiritually, physically, emotionally.

The last lesson we can learn from the geese is about the sound they make. Almost everyone has heard geese flying overhead long before you see them, the familar "HONK, HONK" in the skies.

I asked one of the children what they thought the HONK meant. A boy quickly replied, "Get out of the way!"

They were surprised to learn that scientists have discovered the HONK really is a sound of encouragement geese give to each other as they fly. So if you could translate each HONK it might sound something like this, "Honk (You can do it!), Honk (We are almost there!), Honk (You are flying great!). All the way they are building each other up!

When I finished sharing, we had to leave the session early to drive to the next camp and set up that night. One of the leaders told the children we were leaving early and they came and prayed for us. Before we left the leader said, "Sue and Carolyn are going to drive for 7 hrs to get to their next camp" and from the back of the tent we heard someone go "HONK!" Then the leader said they are doing the kid's sessions for a family camp with 3hrs in the morning and 3hrs in the evening. From different parts of the group I heard "Honk, Honk, Honk". Then as we got in our car the honking started to get louder and as we drove on the dusty unmade road down the mountain we heard in the distance..."HONK... Honk... honk...