Wednesday, December 15th, 2005
A Little Side Study - Unity
The three things:
- Is there a fact to believe here?
- Is there a promise to trust?
- Is there a command to obey?
The parable of the geese:
As geese fly in a “V” formation, each bird flaps its wings creating uplift for the bird behind. In this particular formation, the whole flock adds 71% more to the flying range than if each bird flew alone. Whenever a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone. It quickly gets back into the formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the others in the flock. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose takes over the lead. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep going and keep up their speed. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly again, or dies. They then rejoin the formation.
LESSON: People who share a common direction can get where they’re going faster and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed in the direction we want to travel. It’s a good thing to share the “hard yards”. We need to make sure that our “honking from behind” is encouraging and uplifting rather than something less helpful. If we have as much sense as a goose, we’ll treat our fellow travelers in the same manner.
(Milton Olsen)
Now, I changed the format (which is fairly common for me), but all the words are the same from this story.
Psalm 133:1-3
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Romans 15:1-6
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:1-11
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Note: I think I see something here… the story of the geese and how easily unified they are when they put their mind to it. And not only do they do the task, but they do it joyfully and stand by their comrades to the ever so bitter end. And when they partake on their journey, they encourage each other all along the way! So how good and pleasant it is when we live in unity? Am I trying to live in unity? Am I trying to be like-minded and have one spirit and purpose? When was the last time I asked God to give me and others a spirit of unity? OUCH! Now that humbles me right there, because I can’t think of the last time I prayed for such a thing… I can’t even think of the last time I thought about the whole unity issue… but I think of the geese and how they allow others to lead and gracefully, I might add, and how the others encourage the leader all the while that goose is leading and am I doing that? I don’t know… (OH YEAH, HE’S ON THIRD) I like to think that I am, but I don’t know… (THIRD BASE) I try to be honest with myself, and it has been my goal of late to encourage others, it’s like a little purpose I have inside me, and with the story that was presented to me today, it lights that fire all the more. I mean, if a goose can do it, then surely I can encourage others, right? I mean, it’s a GOOSE! Surely, I can outdo a goose, right? But here’s the thing… it is a part of the goose’s nature. Is it a part of mine?
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