YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM A GOOSE
I.
EPHESIANS 4:1/ "I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called". PRAYER
Verses 2 and 3 go on to state: 2)"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3)Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".
II. Sufficet to say, I think that we all at times need to be reminded of the importance of how that we, as followers and ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, need to be humble and show the love of Christ as shown in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 2 and 3...
But I’d like to focus your attention to verse one,
giving emphasis to the words WALK and VOCATION; as I introduce to you the subject: "YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM A GOOSE".
The first word of emphasis is WALK...
When we think of walking...most people don’t like to do too much of that today. I’ve seen people drive around mall parking lots for near thirty minutes just to find a parking spot closer to the door; or sit idle and block through traffic on the mall roads while waiting on someone to back out of a space so they could get their spot...and many times it’s only a few spaces closer than to the door than if they’d have just parked in the first available space!
So we can probably understand that there’s not a lot of "walking" competitions per se...walking is more geared toward health and exercise, although there are some, I’m sure.
Many walking events have volunteers that walk having been sponsered to do so by being given donations of an agreed amount for a certain cause for a known amount of distance to be walked...and this is a wonderful thing to participate in, when one sees the benefits of those that are blessed by these acts of kindness.
But what about a GOOSE? Many people think that all a goose does is walk around all day...pecking around for its’ food and living a life of leisure.
Strangely enough, people have associated other people into this line of reasoning, especially if they seem to be a little "out-of-step", so to speak, with the majority of society...or they don’t quite "fit in" to the crowd that most are associated with. I’m sure you have heard some of the phrases associated with this conduct or behavior..."He’s like a goose...he wakes up in a new world every day!"..."loose as a goose"....or "That one’s got no more sense than God gave a goose!"....but in my years I have learned..."YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM A GOOSE!"
I am reminded of a co-worker that I saw on the way to work one day very early in the morning...and as I passed by him, and saw that no one else was near us, I honked my horn and waved at him, but he never budged nor even looked over at me...he kept his eyes ’glued’ to the road ahead of him...and I thought of that saying that other co-workers had said about him..."He’s like a goose; he wakes up in a new world every day!"... And though I teased him about it a little, I realized that he had the right idea...looking forward to the road ahead was the safest course of action, but am also reminded that God’s instructions to us are to "go forward, not looking to the right or to the left"...and as the apostle taught: to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".
III. The second word of emphasis is VOCATION.
Again, ordinarily folks don’t consider geese as having a vocation...but geese FLY, don’t they? And if you don’t think that’s work, then you try flying! And for the hunters among us, I’m probably not telling you anything that you don’t already know...but...
"YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM A GOOSE!"
If we would consider that the flight of geese during their migration period as their vocation, then consider these facts about the geese as studied by Milton Olsen and use them as valuable lessons...
#1) Geese fly in a V-formation for greater range for the entire flock. As each bird flaps its’ wings, it creates an UPLIFT for the following bird. This adds 71% to their flying range than if the bird was flying alone. LESSON: People who share a sense of common direction and community get where they are going quicker and easier. And I will add here that this holds true for the family, the church, and the workplace... And, it is written, "A house divided against itself shall not stand".
#2) When a goose falls out of formation it feels the resistance of flying alone and quickly gets back into formation. LESSON: Stay in the company with those that are headed in the direction you want to go.
I will add here that this reminds me of the apostle Paul prior to his conversion...as Saul of Tarsus he thought he was doing God’s work but he was "blinded by the light" of the Lord and shown the error of his ways when the Lord spoke to him and said..."It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks!"...
The church and the kingdom will be much furthered if we try to associate ourselves and utilize those that are fellow laborers in Christ that seek to advance the gospel of Christ and His love...and we may even apply this to physical labor at the church, grounds, or its’ outreaches....those that will give cheerfully of their time, talents, and even their offerings do far more good than those who must be "required of"...
#3) When the lead goose gets tired another goose takes the point position. LESSON: It pays to take turns doing hard tasks and sharing leadership.
I will add here that both on the job as a supervisor of others, and while as pastor of the churches that I have pastored, I have never required of another a task that I would not do myself, or at least be right there working with them to get the job done. Delegating authority to qualified people that are eager to work for the Lord is "must have" in our churches today, just as it was in the early church...if we expect the church to survive in these troublesome times that we live in today!...(especially when statistics show that the average pastors’ age in almost every denominational church is in excess of 55 years!).
#4) The geese in formation honk to encourage the lead goose. LESSON: BE SURE YOUR HONK IS HELPFUL!
And I will add here that we all like to have an "AMEN" corner; or receive some "ATTABOYS" when we are trying to do good for the kingdom...but what incentive does one have if all they receive is criticism or never encouraged when they are trying to do a good job....especially, as "UNTO THE LORD?"
So please, whether at work, home, church, or even on the board; LET YOUR HONKING BE HELPFUL; NOT HURTFUL!
#5) When a goose gets sick or wounded, two geese fall out of formation and follow it to the ground and protect it. They stay until their companion dies or is able to fly again and then launch out to catch up with the flock. LESSON: Stand by each other in difficult times. And here ends Mr. Olsens’ lessons on geese...but we can learn a lot from the geese if we apply these principles to our Christian WALK.
Here also I might add that we must admit that we in the church world do not see enough of the "bearing of one anothers’ burdens" as we are taught in the Word of God! I mean after all, we have our own lives and our own churches to take care of...right? May God help us to be mindful of those that are in need and help them as much as we can possibly help them!
As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and ministers of His gospel, our WALK, of course, is not the way that we travel with our feet but rather the meaning is spiritual...the way that we conduct ourselves and how we treat others. Let us therefore be encouraged to love one another as Christ taught; retain humility no matter what level the Lord promotes us to while in His service; endure the hardships associated with our labors for Christ-[LONGSUFFERING, that is]- and that means while dealing with others and their different temperaments; and all the while striving to keep peace, unity, and harmony among the brethren...and in our churches.
Who needs help in your church or family? Remember the kindness and care you have received in the past and ask the Lord what kindness you can provide for them.
IN CLOSING:
"THERE IS NO BETTER EXERCISE FOR THE HEART THAN REACHING DOWN AND LIFTING PEOPLE UP"- John Andrew Holmer
"YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM A GOOSE!"
