The Simple Sense of Geese

From AA Grapevine - Our Meeting in Print Online:

"Flight Pattern

Next fall when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a V formation, you might like to consider what science has discovered about why geese fly this way.

It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a 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 quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the uplift of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it immediately 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 immediately in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the formation and another goose flies point.

It pays to take turns doing hard jobs.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

We too say something when we "honk from behind."

Finally (now I want you to get this), when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the ailing goose until it is either able to fly or until it dies; then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with the group.

If we have the simple sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that."