By Kim Thoday

In James Michner’s novel Chesapeake he describes the migration patterns of geese. The most interesting part of this phenomenon for me is how the leader of the flock at the apex of the “V” formation is constantly changing.

The bird that flies at the point of the V is buffeted by strong headwinds and consequently this lead position can only be held for a certain period of time. As the leader tires, it drops back to the rear where it is able to regain strength. Over the vast distances of each day of migratory flight this rotation occurs so that the whole group reaches its destination.

My first thought is that it took an incredible God to create such an amazing and mysterious universe. The awesome mystery of life is rather well articulated by one of my favourite scientists, the late Carl Sagan, when he said: ‘If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.’

My second thought concerns how geese may in some ways be smarter then we are. Instinctively, they ‘know’ that the responsibility for leading and working falls upon each of them. If it weren’t that way the leaders would die of exhaustion and the group would likely not reach its goal.

Now, it would be foolish and naïve to draw from this analogy that all people are leaders; inversely, neither is this to be interpreted as a nascent manifesto for a leaderless society. Rather, the analogy is useful for thinking about human responsibility. Leadership, I believe, at the deepest level is only as good as the way an organization is structured and to the extent to which there exists an ethos of shared responsibility. For migratory geese the process of migration is fundamentally based upon rotation. And that instinctive organization is shared by the whole flock. Each of the geese have a responsibility to support each other and ultimately to support the leadership of the group. Note that this organizational responsibility makes it possible for a flock of geese to achieve one of the great miracles of nature, that is, trans-continental migration.

It may seem a little simplistic to suggest that the Church is like a flock of geese. I think the Church is at its best when each person shares the responsibility of supporting, nurturing and caring for the leadership (yes and there will certainly be times when rotation is necessary!). Sometimes the Church needs to learn to follow its instincts a little more – those spiritual instincts of humility, vulnerability and mutuality. For when it has been so inclined through out the ages, the Church has guided many a migrant home.

Grace and Peace

Kim Thoday Hewett Community Church of Christ, South Australia http://www.hewett.org.au

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