In the early morning, just after dawn, I see them. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of geese. They form lines in the sky, one taking the lead, now another. Maybe, if it were just one, I wouldn’t even notice. It is the formation of many that catch my eye. They are in communion. With the backdrop of the brilliant blue autumn sky, the field of gold, and the reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn color in the distance, it occurs to me that I’d love to know how to paint this lovely scene. When I was small, I would watch the geese in the sky, and then I’d take my crayons and draw a perfect V formation of birds on the blue construction paper, the birds always precariously close to the sun with its yellow and orange crayon-lines streaming outward.

It seems the geese are always seeking a perfect place, always on the move. It occurs to me now that the geese can represent much to us humans.

We yearn for a perfect place, whether it is a perfect home life, or perfect job, or perfect partner. The geese do this, too. In the fall, they fly south in an effort to stay warm and happy. In the spring, they come back north to raise their little goslings. My mom tells me stories of the geese that return, year after year, to her property to raise their babies. Apparently, the adult geese lose their feathers when their goslings are young. They only get them back when the goslings are ready to learn to fly. If only we, too, could sometimes focus simply on staying out of danger and learning to fly again.

On a recent business trip to Los Angeles, I stopped to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Its scale and design remind me of St Francis de Sales in my hometown. Four windows form the giant cross above the altar. The walls of the space are decorated with amazing tapestries depicting saints that lived throughout history. What is most striking about them is that their figures face the cross, as if they are standing beside the people in the pews, looking towards the altar. These holy men and women remind us to focus on staying out of danger and on learning how to keep the goal of returning home in focus.

During this month of celebrating our saints, I encourage you to stay focused on the cross. And when you see a formation of geese in the sky, perhaps you will consider the saints in your midst, always focused on their direction, and always there to remind us of our true home.


-Hebrews 2:1-2

10 thoughts on “formation

  1. Lovely visuals Beck. A reminder to me that change is good. That home is different places, people, experiences at different times in our lives.


  2. Becky- I really enjoyed your reading your blog. I was reminded of a keynote address given by Lou Holtz at a prayer breakfast many years ago. In describing the flight of geese in their perfect V-formation, he talked about why they fly this way: the formation is the most efficient way for the flock to fly, penetrating the resistance of the wind. When the lead goose tires, he falls to the back of the formation where he is able to work less hard, benefiting from the efforts of those before him, and regain his strength. If for some reason the goose cannot keep up and happens to fall out of formation, two of the other geese will fall out with him until he ready to fly again. How much there is to learn for human beings from these marvelous creatures, along with the potential questions is poses for us. Are we well connected with others? Are we willing to work for a common goal? Are we willing to help our neighbor? Would we be willing to sacrifice our standing if it meant we could help someone else? Do we consider the most efficient and effective strategies to life’s problems? Or are we content in going it alone? I submit that there are valuable life lessons available to all of us quietly hidden in the flight of geese.


    • Tom, I love the questions you pose here. I’m glad that you were able to find some connections in my post! This is why I write… because I feel like some ordinary experiences in life, like watching the flight of geese, afford us connection to God. Thank you for making some connections for me, too.


  3. Hi Becky,
    your piece on formation,reminded me again of one of my favourite poems
    ‘Wild Geese’ by Mary Oliver, Beautiful,
    Thank you.
    Patrick Sheehan


    • Patrick, thank you for this. I had not read this poem before but found it this morning. So powerful. I’ll be sure to read and re-read.
      I hope you continue to enjoy my blog.


  4. Once again a beautiful visual with a reminder to breathe-in the moment and behold the many opportunities God gives us to be fully alive. Thanks, my friend.


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