Migrating Geese: Lessons in Unity and Spiritual Formation

Have you ever watched a flock of geese flying in their distinctive V formation? There's something mesmerising about their synchronised movement across the sky. What appears to be simple bird behaviour actually contains profound spiritual truths about how we're meant to live together as believers.

What Does It Mean to Be Hardwired for the Spirit?

Just as geese are naturally programmed to migrate and catch air currents, we are designed by God to connect with the Holy Spirit. This isn't something we have to force or manufacture - it's built into our spiritual DNA as new creations in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 reminds us that our old identity has been crucified with Christ, and now the Anointed One lives His life through us. We're hardwired to soar with the Holy Spirit, empowered by faith and united with Jesus.

Why Is Going in the Same Direction So Important?

When observing the geese migration, one thing stands out: every flock heads in the same direction. Some flap frantically, others glide peacefully. Some formations are perfectly symmetrical, others appear wonky. But they all move toward the same destination.

Unity Doesn't Mean Uniformity

This teaches us that we don't all have to look the same, pray the same, or worship the same way. What matters is that we're all heading toward Jesus and His kingdom first. Our mindset should align with Christ's, even if our methods differ.

Philippians 2 encourages us to be like-minded, having the same love and being of one spirit. The key is maintaining unity of purpose while allowing for diversity in expression.

How Do We Maintain the Bond of Peace?

Ephesians reminds us to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." This bond of peace is more important than getting our own way. When something aggravates us or makes us uncomfortable, our priority should be protecting the peace that binds us together.

What Does Spiritual Formation Look Like?

Flying in formation isn't chaotic - it's orderly and purposeful. God is not a God of disorder but of peace. When we lack togetherness, we create confusion and frustration among ourselves.

Formation also provides security. We know who's with us and who has our back. In kingdom formation, we never have to check behind us because we trust that others are covering us in the bond of peace.

Why Should the Church Be a Noisy Place?

Geese constantly communicate during migration - honking and squawking to signal their position and encourage the formation. This isn't complaining; it's encouragement and connection.

Similarly, the church should be a place of vocal encouragement. We should be speaking blessings to one another, asking about prayer needs, and offering support. A united church moving in the Spirit should be joyfully noisy with encouragement.

What Happens When We Stop "Flapping"?

If a bird stops flapping while flying, it falls from the sky. Spiritually, if we stop our kingdom activities - prayer, worship, gratitude, and relationship building - we quickly fall out of formation and enter a downward spiral.

How Do We Keep Our Spiritual Momentum?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 instructs us to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances." This is our spiritual flapping - maintaining an attitude of gratitude and staying connected to God through prayer and worship.

The path forward won't always be straight, just like the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. But by staying connected to the Holy Spirit's leading, we can navigate the twists and turns together.

What Does It Mean to Be High Flyers?

Geese don't fly from lamppost to lamppost - they soar at altitudes of 2,000 to 20,000 feet. From this height, they can see far ahead, beyond obstructions, and above other birds. Everything is beneath their feet.

Living from a Heavenly Perspective

Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God "raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms." We're meant to live from this elevated perspective, not getting bogged down in low-level squabbles or focusing solely on personal hardships.

When we maintain this high altitude spiritually, we can see the bigger picture and avoid getting caught up in the activities of spiritual scavengers - those who feed on disruption and leave messes behind.

How Do We Clear the Way for Others?

When geese land, they completely occupy a field, and all the scavenger birds scatter. We've been given authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome the enemy's power. When we move together in spiritual authority, we clear the way and bring heaven to earth.

The Power of Passionate Faith

Pests won't have time to land on us if we're flapping at high altitude. When we're fully connected with Jesus and passionate for His kingdom, the enemy struggles to find a foothold. Passionate, joyful believers are infectious and inspire others to migrate toward Jesus.

Why Is Staying Together So Crucial?

A unified group scatters opposition, but isolated individuals become easy targets. When one goose breaks from formation and starts to drift, the scattered scavenger birds quickly move in to harass it.

There's nothing more powerful than a united church moving with the Holy Spirit. Together in the bond of peace, we have dominion and authority. The gates of hell cannot prevail against a united church because we are an enemy-scattering formation.

Life Application

This week, commit to protecting the bond of peace in your relationships. When disagreements or frustrations arise, prioritize unity over being right. Ask yourself: "Am I contributing to the formation, or am I creating division?"

Practice spiritual "flapping" daily through prayer, worship, and gratitude. Don't let yourself drift into a spiritual downward spiral by neglecting these essential practices.

Look for opportunities to be an encouraging voice to others in your church family. Send that text, make that call, or speak that word of blessing. Be part of the "noisy migration" that lifts others up.

Questions for Reflection:

• Am I protecting the bond of peace in my relationships, or am I insisting on my own way?
• What does "flapping" look like in my daily spiritual life, and am I maintaining consistent practices?
• How can I be more encouraging to others in my church community this week?
• Am I living from a heavenly perspective, or am I getting caught up in low-level concerns?