I
was outside on our deck at sunrise in Colorado.
An hour before, a meteorite streaked across the sky among the brilliant
stars before they faded and disappeared. The morning star was still visible. The
eastern rim was streaked with crimson and gold against a faint, robin-egg-blue
sky.
I
heard geese in the distance and watched as a long line winged their way against
the dawn. Then more. Hundreds of Canada geese continued in small
and large groupings, one squadron emerging behind another in vee formations, sculling
the air with their wings, honking their encouragement to those who led them
south and west. I suppose they were
headed to feed in the foothills. Migrating geese is one of the things I love most.
Another aspect of nature’s beauty and mystery.
Who
taught them to fly in formation? Scientists
who study this phenomenon say the V formation reduces drag and adds lift for
each goose. By flying together in this
way, they increase their range by 71%.
And, since the lead birds must put forth the greatest effort, they
rotate the lead position. They do this voluntarily. No one commands them. No one trains or instructs them. It is their God-given nature.
Watching the geese at sunrise reminded me
of the unique global challenges we all face including global warming, poverty, famine
and the aftermath, whatever it is, of this week’s election. To survive and thrive we need to fly in
formation. During Covid, that meant
wearing a mask, washing our hands, remaining six feet apart. We did a pretty
good job. It always means adopting
environmentally friendly practices, providing for the poor, feeding the hungry,
caring for the sick, opening doors of opportunity for the underprivileged,
encouraging the young.
The Bible consistently teaches us the
importance of “flying in formation.”
John the Baptist who introduced Jesus said, “Anyone who has two shirts
should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the
same,” (Luke 3:11).
Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and
you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked
after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” … “Whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
(Matthew 25:35-40).
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do nothing out of
selfishness or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests, but each of you looking to the interests of
others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Peter gave us these instructions: “Applying
all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in
your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control,
and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and
in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly
kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Tinsley's book, The Jesus Encounter, is FREE as an eBook on Amazon November 5-6.
