Notes from a Sojourn
March 26, 2020
Geese
They are back. I hear them as I fall asleep, as I wake up, and almost all hours in between. Canada geese make their presence known in the most conspicuous of ways. These large birds migrate in large numbers. They do not sing: they shout!
I am told they honk in order to encourage each other and to organize their highly efficient V-shaped flight formation.
As they fly overhead, I have been reflecting on their unusually free lifestyle. They travel great distances, adapting to conditions along the way, they focus on what is most simple, and they live their lives, with little inhibition. When I consider the journey geese make twice a year, and the dangers they face at all times, I am greatly impressed by this common bird.
The truth is that geese do many things I find difficult. I am not always ready for change, I am prone to over-complicating my life, and I am not always ready to call out to those around me for support. As I hear them honking their way past, I can't help wonder if maybe the geese have a message for me.
As Eastern Ontario are filled with Canada geese again, I give thanks for these heralds of a new season. I give thanks for the invitation I hear as they fly overhead. And I give thanks that I can explore all of this with a community of fellow travellers: the church.
Patrick+
