This past weekend, I spoke at a Christian Men’s event and while the theme was titled emerging stronger (particularly from this last year) I felt a soul-stirring desire to drive home the importance and effectiveness of emerging stronger – TOGETHER!
The analogy that came to me just blew my mind and I couldn’t wait to share… Did you know that most migratory birds, especially larger birds such as geese, tend to fly in flocks that transform into these mesmerizing v-shaped formations? It blows my mind just how much we can learn from nature!
This V-formation physically allows birds to fly BETTER TOGETHER! And, yep – you guessed it! Through this wonder of nature we can take away a few important lessons about doing life; particularly in community with others.
First, each bird lifts another up! Seriously, they literally create a lift (or upwash) with their wing flaps which help the birds behind and to the immediate left or right of them save energy. This lift allows the following bird to fly with less wind resistance and soar with less wing flaps.
Secondly, there is no single leader. They all take turns leading and taking the brunt of the wind force while letting others rest and recoup throughout the journey. Eventually the birds in the front move backwards and others from behind take their place in the lead thus sharing the burden with each and for each other.
And lastly, despite what we may have thought, science has proven that this is NOT just a natural born instinct. It’s learned and takes effort and intentionality! Flocks start out all over the place and eventually settle into this formation as they figure each other out learning to adjust to each other’s characteristics; wing spans, wing flap patterns, size, strengths and weaknesses. They then account for the airflow created by each distinct attribute of each other and eventually learn to fly in the most efficient way – together!
That’s some pretty uplifting stuff, right? (I know, I know…) But, what does that mean for us? Well, it means…
We fly easier when we have others to lift us up along the way!
We fly smarter when we learn and truly understand each other!
We fly farther when we share in taking on the burden of the journey!
And, we SOAR to our highest heights when we FLY TOGETHER!
In this context, we EMERGE STRONGER as MEN — TOGETHER!
On that note…
When is the last time you took inventory and made investments in your relationships?
Pick up the phone and schedule a regular coffee chat, lunch, game of golf, cigar night (whatever your thing might be) and invest in deeper friendships. We fly better together!
MARK SCALIA 