Birds of a feather flock together.

I’ll bet you’ve heard that common wisdom before; in fact, I’ll bet you’ve even quoted it at appropriate moments. In that verbiage, it is an English proverb that reaches back 500+ years but has origins in ancient Greek and Roman citations. The underlying message: there’s a temptation to do life alone… but, for the long run, it’s always better to join forces with others who are like-minded.

If you find a gathering of geese, ducks, ibis, swans, seagulls, pelicans or flamingos, you’ll discover a similarity among them: their daily lives may be quite individualized but, when it’s time for the flock to migrate great distances, they are all naturally inclined to community.

The V-formation is a pattern created by the alignment of birds in flight. That formation has multiple advantages, including aerodynamic efficiency and energy conservation. When flying in that manner, they create an air current that allows each bird to save energy they would otherwise use if they flew alone. Additionally, flying in the V-formation allows the birds to share information about food sources and other hazards.

Migration over long distances requires a lot of energy, and it’s a great advantage for birds to save energy however possible. They’ll need less food, and the migration will take less time. That’s where the V-formation comes in handy: scientific studies have shown that geese flying in formation may spend only half as much energy than flying alone or in some other shape. This is also why a squadron of jets will adopt the same v-shape: it takes less fuel for the aircraft to fly. Birds and jets are both able to gain extra lift by flying in the updraft that is created by the flyer in front of it.

When birds stay together in the air, there are additional benefits. It’s a defense mechanism that protects against predators; it’s difficult for a predator to single out an individual from the flock, and a bird that leaves the flock is more likely to be eaten. The whole flock moves as one in order to protect every member.

Who’s flying “point?” The leaders tend to be those birds with the strongest flight. They’re also more experienced; it’s tough work, and even the strongest will eventually tire. So, others with similar qualifications will take turns at the lead, while the prior leader slips into the flock to recover.

Pictures from creation are interesting as they demonstrate consistent patterns in the rest of what God has designed. Within the church – the family of God living on earth, this side of Eternity – there are intriguing commonalities with those birds. Though daily life may work adequately for many believers while isolated from the flock, when life becomes a journey akin to migration, developing an intentional formation can make the difference.

Leaders serve the flock by flying at the point and modeling the behavior that the rest can trust and replicate. Everyone will expend less energy; all will be more secure. The trip is better for all.

That’s the way God intends the leadership to function in His family. Paul knew and practiced that approach: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). And, as he handed the lead off to the next generation, that expectation continued: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

The bird leaders get it: get the flock together for the epic journey; use your strength to serve the weak; and share the demands of leadership while you take a break and regain strength for the future.

Let’s stay in formation; we’ve still got a ways to go before we reach our ultimate destination…