Jeremiah 8:7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.

As I watched a flock of Canadian Geese fly over my home in their typical “V” formation with one loudly honking away as if giving directions to a rowing team, I stopped to think just how incredible that is. Did you know that a Canadian Goose can fly up to 1500 miles in ONE DAY and that they migrate 2000-3000 miles?!?! We humans have our GPS to give us step by step voice directions to find our way to an already known address, but without it most of us would never reach our destination. If you are directionally challenged, sometimes GPS doesn’t even get you where you want to go! We have every assistance we could think of at our fingertips and a lot of the time we still struggle with navigation and decisions that will direct our life in the proper direction. In contrast, the flock trusts their God-given internal instincts to migrate thousands of miles away to a more desirable climate with no outside guidance whatsoever.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you

The Goose Story
By Harry Clarke Noyes ARCS NEWS, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 1992
Next fall, when you see Geese heading south for the winter, flying along in V formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way: as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly 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 in front. When the Head Goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

The migratory instincts of birds are simply astonishing to me. Canadian Geese nest in the same exact location every year and mate for life, if their mate passes away they sadly remain alone for the remainder of their life. Without ever enduring a college Physics course, they understand uplift, drag and resistance so that they can perform to their upmost physical ability. No leadership seminar was needed to teach them how to lead, step down when they are weak or encourage those around them. The instincts that God created them with literally provide for their every need. Listening to their instincts provide the climate they need, the same winter and summer home they return to every year, encouraging community, physical and social support to succeed, a nurturing mate and fellow parent to help raise their young.

Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

I know that God did not create humans to have the same instincts that he created Canadian Geese with, but he provided us with so much MORE! Such as the Holy Spirit, God’s word in the Bible, community within the church, hope in God and so much more and yet we stray so far from what should be obvious support for us to have peace, hope and direction in this world. If we just followed without questioning  how God created us – like the Geese follow their instincts – how much easier this human life would be. You never see a bunch of Canadian Geese sitting around trying to figure out who should lead or flying around in circles because they can’t get a good GPS signal. They just go! They just trust their God-given instincts. Can you imagine where we would end up if we had to travel 1500 miles without a map or GPS…..For me personally THAT WOULD NOT END WELL….and I would only be DRVING!!!! Not flapping to fly! God provides us everything we need, and yet we question, negotiate, worry and ponder about everything around us. If the Geese can fly 3000 miles in a matter of days, remain in community, honor leadership, share responsibilities, be loyal partners, survive and prosper (if you know anything about the Canadian Geese population – they are THRIVING) we should trust that God has direction and provision for us as well. We need to follow without question or inserting our own worldly wisdom. God leads us, shows us and guides us. 

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.