“V” Flying
I have always been fascinated by watching geese as they fly overhead. They always fly in the form of a “V.” Being sports-minded I figured that the “V” had something to do with victory.
Well, it does. It’s a victory in a unique kind of way. They fly in the formation because they need each other in order to reach their destination. They create an aerodynamic situation where each of them can “draft” behind the one in front of him. Each one helps pull another along.
The leader out front doesn’t have a fellow goose to draft behind, so he takes his turn as the lead goose, then shifts back and another takes his place. They all work together to help each other. The “V” creates meaningful relationships that produce victory!
I love the fact that technology has made it possible to connect people with each other, but a danger is that you can connect with people without meaningful relationships. We live in a culture that can quickly substitute community for connectedness. Community means that we have a common mindset which brings unity. Connectedness just puts us in touch with each other.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 describes this. If you are one person unconnected and you fall, you may have trouble getting up by yourself. The older you get, the more you will understand this. If you have a good friend who is with you, the friend can help. Two friends are even better than one.
Bloomberg Businessweek tells how Silicon Valley is loaded with people who are brilliant in technology. When they have a large social event, connecting with people is tough for many of the brilliant engineers. A local modeling agency supplies people who can serve to talk to the people attending the party and try to relate to them. The people hired to relate are given information about people and situations that can serve as a topic of conversation. The people hired have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Person-to-person relationships are being staged.
Normally relationships don’t develop without some degree of intentionality. There might be an initial meeting, but it has to be developed. Genuine relationships are not the result of one big thing but rather hundreds of little things.
Genuine relationships are transformational, not transactional. A transactional relationship says I will do certain things if you will do certain things. It is a transaction. Those are selfish. Transformational relationships are when we genuinely care for each other and are willing to relate meaningfully even if the response is not what we expected or desired. God always relates to us transformationally!
The best relationships are based on accepting God’s plan and purpose for our lives, and then helping each other achieve their purpose. Someone described the difference between Heaven and hell on earth as whether or not we are dependent on and dependable for other people. Fulfilling God’s purpose is what we pray in the Lord’s Prayer that God’s Kingdom will come on earth as it is in Heaven.
Use technology to help connect—but never let it become a substitute for genuine community. Be sure that you and your church are about community and not just casual connectedness.
Are you in a “V” formation? It’s time to fly!!
