Today I’m wrapping up this seven part series on the art of encouragement with lessons from the Barnabas Birds , aka, Canada geese.

When you see Canada geese flying along in ‘V’ formation, you might consider what science (Biology teacher Dr. Robert McNeish, Baltimore, 1972) has discovered as to why they fly that way.

Lesson #1: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in ‘V’ formation, the whole flock adds at least seventy-one percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the encouragement of one another.

Lesson #2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those headed in the right direction.

Lesson #3: When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Lesson #4: Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

Lesson #5: And finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly again or until it dies; only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

APPLICATION: Who needs an encouraging text message, email, note, or phone call from you today? DO IT NOW!