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S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, “No,” and returned the application, expecting the worst.

To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.”

If you are not cut out to be a leader, be honest about it.  If you take the lead and are not Willing, Alert, Obedient, Equipped, and Steadfast as a leader then you will do the church more harm than good.  It is just as important and honorable to be a follower, as long as you are a GOOD follower.  I think some get dejected and down, feeling that they aren’t doing anything for the church if they aren’t leading in some way, but where would the shepherd be if all the sheep suddenly enrolled in a Zig Zigler leadership class?  Following Bo Peep to the unemployment line I suppose.  So how do you be a good follower?  Cue the goose illustration.

Now I will be the first to tell you that geese are disgusting creatures up close.  Sure they’re pretty, but, as my good brother Wellman (who has a pond by his home) eloquently laments, “They’re flying cows!”  Needless to say he has ways of making them skidaddle and this is when we can learn from them, while they are in flight.  I understand that geese do not fly in their classic formation because they just like the letter ‘V’…. You see, the geese are all flapping away and as they do, the displaced air creates an uplift behind them so that in the back of the formation, it takes 70% less exertion to stay aloft than it does for the goose at the point.  The lead goose falls back every now and then and some of the others take turns at the front to keep one leader from being completely exhausted. 

Now that is all pretty nifty.  But which geese make all of the noise?  I understand that the geese in the very back of the form do all that lovely honking.  Why?  Well we don’t know for sure, but the working theory is that they are simply honking encouragement to those in front and letting them know, “We’re behind you all the way.”

So, valiant follower, still thinking you’re not important to your congregation?  Wherever you are in the formation of your flock of believers, you have an important job.  You have to create an uplift to make it easier for those that come in behind.  “But preacher, I don’t do anything at all that’s important… if I were one of your geese, I’d be in the very back for sure, how is that important?”

Well gosling, whether bond or free, male goose or female gander, Jew or Greek, born leader or natural follower… anyone can honk, and you have no idea how important that is to the geese at the front.

Praying for those honkin Christians everywhere.  Keep up the good work.

More to follow ;)