Canadian Geese Get Me Thinking
Daily for the last two months, we've heard the honking of Canadian Geese overhead. Our home is definitely on a migratory flight path! One day in early September as I was watching the geese fly past, I noticed something interesting. A flock of geese were travelling by honking away as usual but off in the distance was a lone goose. What it looked like to me was that this goose was desparately trying to catch up with the flock. I couldn't help but interpret its honks as a call: "Wait for me! I'm coming! I don't want to be alone on this strenuous flight south!"
This got me thinking about Christian community and how important it is for us to not be trying to make the challenging journey of living out our faith in Christ alone. Just as flying in the V formation enables each goose to expend less energy, so joining together with other Christians gives us strength and endurance for the journey of faith. We are not alone. We have others around us to bear our burdens. We have the privilege of encouraging and serving those around us. (Of note: I read that one of the reasons Canadian geese honk while flying is to encourage the lead bird. Maybe that is an example for us as well.)
Did that goose ever catch up? I don't know. It was out of sight so quickly. Recently, however, I've observed that there aren't any geese flying alone or in pairs. They are always with a flock these days. Maybe the urgency of winter's soon arrival has them focused on sticking with the group. This too, is a reminder for the Church. As the author of Hebrews states:
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb. 10:25 NIV)
This got me thinking about Christian community and how important it is for us to not be trying to make the challenging journey of living out our faith in Christ alone. Just as flying in the V formation enables each goose to expend less energy, so joining together with other Christians gives us strength and endurance for the journey of faith. We are not alone. We have others around us to bear our burdens. We have the privilege of encouraging and serving those around us. (Of note: I read that one of the reasons Canadian geese honk while flying is to encourage the lead bird. Maybe that is an example for us as well.)
Did that goose ever catch up? I don't know. It was out of sight so quickly. Recently, however, I've observed that there aren't any geese flying alone or in pairs. They are always with a flock these days. Maybe the urgency of winter's soon arrival has them focused on sticking with the group. This too, is a reminder for the Church. As the author of Hebrews states:
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb. 10:25 NIV)
Beautiful, Tracy. You and the rest of the CELTJ gang taught me SO MUCH about flying with my fellow believers. I've said it before, but I'll say it again - being part of that Bible Study group changed my life and I wouldn't go back to flying solo for anything. Life in fellowship isn't always easy, but the hard work is part of the point and the rewards are priceless.
ReplyDeleteLianne,
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed that our group was your first experience of this type of small group since your presence in the group (and hosting of it) did so much to shape it into an authentic, loving community. It just shows me that people don't have to have experience to contribute to a godly community, they just need to want to be willing to live it!