Lessons from Geese
We have decided to start a blog at SCOPE. It sounded like a great idea at the time but now comes the actual writing and posting part. Gee, can I do this and resist the temptation to bring out the editorial “spit and polish”? My niece started a blog and did it for three days and then gave up. She was on it all the time and just couldn’t keep up. A friend of mine has a very interesting blog about cooking and food experiences. I confess I don’t read it that often (long posts) but find it very entertaining when I do. And usually come across a great recipe too. So I think my goals when I post are to be brief and say something that might be of interest.
A couple of years ago I was given a copy of “Lessons from Geese”. You may be familiar with this, if not, just Google it - you will come up with about 84,000 results. It began as part of a speech in the 1990s at the Organizational Development Network, is used by Outward Bound and probably in many corporations. Anyway, these lessons are about leadership and I think they are also about being part of a community. The five lessons are really powerful - #5 is what I think about these days. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock. So the lesson is, stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong. What does that mean today in your life? How can each of us practice this in our circles of relationships, in our neighborhoods? Where is it missing - and in the spirit of not complaining, how can each of us change that? How does this lesson help us today given the economy and the issues that are happening locally? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
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Comments
Excellent post! So many people are walking around saying, “Things are terrible! What can I do?” Well, how about helping those closest to you who may be suffering. Not hard. Simple things. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
I’m glad that after surfing the web for uch a long time I have found out this information. I’m really lucky.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
The Story of the Geese is so powerful! And as you point out, very timely. I get the sense that the non profit community is rallying together to find ways to support one another because we all know how important all of these programs are for the community.
I look forward to the SCOPE blog and the comments of others!