Ever since "Animal Farm", I have become fond of animal stories for their curative lessons. I have seen the story below in various versions before, and I don't know who put out this one. I claim "fair use" in bringing it to you this merry day, and just to be sure I don't conflict with someone else's copyright, I intersperse it with Zundelsite Wisdom to break up the word count.
With credits, therefore, to whoever wrote it, I give you now "The Sense of a Goose":
* Next Spring, when you see geese heading back North for the summer, flying along in V-formation, you might be interested in knowing what scientists have discovered about why they fly that way.
It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Basic Truth # 1: People who share a common direction and a sense of communication get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the trust of one another.
Zundelsite Dictum: Flap your wings!
* Whenever 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 birds immediately in front.
Basic Truth # 2: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going.
Zundelsite Battle Cry: Align your beaks!
* When the lead goose gets tired, the goose rotates to the back and another goose flies the point.
Basic Truth # 3: It pays to take turns doing hard jobs with people or with geese flying North.
Zundelsite Doctrine: Lead geese are human, too!
* These geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Basic Truth # 4: We need to be careful what we say.
Zundelsite Creed: Honk from behind!
* Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot or falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow down to help and protect it. They stay with that goose until it's either able to fly or until it is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group. Basic Truth # 5: If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other.
Zundelsite Maxim: Comfort a wounded goose!
Ingrid
Thought for the Day:
"Nothing but the victory of laughter over dogma!"
(B. Decasseres)