“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
One of the signs of fall in our area is the migration of the Canada Geese to the south for the winter. As a child we were always intrigued by the way they flew – in the shape of a V, with one Goose leading the rest. The others fell in line, each one following closely the goose ahead of him. There are reasons for them flying in this pattern.
First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest. Birds that fly in formation glide more often and reduce energy expenditure. The second benefit to the V formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Flying in formation may assist with the communication and coordination within the group.
The other day I watched a large flock of geese and they were not flying in a V, just milling around, going one direction, then shifting to another. It seemed they could not decide which goose was the leader and so were not really going anywhere.
How easy it is for us to forget that we must work together to fulfill God’s plan in His kingdom. Of course, Jesus is our true leader, but He gives us each a position to fill. Sometimes we may be the leader, at other times a follower, but it is important that we all look out for one another and do our part to keep the Body moving forward in the right direction. We can be alert for someone who needs extra prayer or a word of encouragement, knowing that someone will do the same for us when we need it. Whatever position we hold, our destination is Heaven, and together we press forward to reach that goal.
Prayer: Jesus, you are leader and guide, you know the way that we should go, help us all to be faithful followers of You and to support the leaders you have placed in charge.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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