…AND TO EAGLE SQUARE! (VI)

Let them be like the geese, organised and focused: “When you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a ‘V’ formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a […]

Let them be like the geese, organised and focused:

“When you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in a ‘V’ formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a ‘V’ formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another. When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are. When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese. Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Finally – and this is important – when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.”

Let them learn from mistakes; a mistake, like experience, is a great teacher too:

“Thomas Edison, the great inventor, tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, ‘All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.’ Edison replied very confidently, ‘Oh, but we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.’”

Let them know failure of one may lead to failure of all:

“Once there was a king who ordered his workers to dig a pond. Once the pond was dug, the king announced to his people that one person from each household must bring a glass of milk during the night and pour it into the pond. He wanted the pond to be full of milk by the morning, he said. After receiving the order, everyone went home. But one man thought that since everyone was going to bring milk, he could just as well hide a glass of water and pour inside the pond. And since it was dark at night, no one would notice. So he quickly went and poured a glass of water into the pond. In the morning, the king came to visit the pond. To his surprise, the pond was only filled with water! What happened was that everyone was thinking exactly like the other man: ‘I don’t have to put the milk, someone else would do it.’”

Let them know the company they keep. The Hausa say ‘abokin barawo barawo ne’ (the friend of a thief is himself a thief):

“Finding that cranes were destroying his newly sown corn, a farmer one evening set a net in his field to catch the destructive birds. When he went to examine the net next morning, he found a number of cranes and also a stork. ‘Release me, I beseech you,’ cried the stork, ‘for I have eaten none of your corn, nor have I done you any harm. I am a poor innocent stork, as you may see – a most dutiful bird, I honour my father and mother. I…’ But the farmer cut him short. ‘All this may be true enough, I dare say, but I have caught you with those were destroying my crops, and you must suffer with the company in which you are found.’ People are judged by the company they keep.”

Let them be thankful for this opportunity:

“As Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon tennis player was dying many years ago, he received letters from his fans from all over the world. One of the letters conveyed: ‘Why does God have to select you for such an end? You are young and you are dying?’ To this, Arthur Ashe replied: ‘The world over, millions of children start practicing tennis; only thousands end up actually learning to play tennis; hundreds ever go on to learn professional tennis; only a few scores eventually come to the circuit; only dozens reach the grand slam; a handful reach Wimbledon; only four reach the semi final; only two ever make it to the final. Only one wins. When I was holding a cup, I never asked God ‘Why me?’And today that I am in pain I should not be asking God: ‘Why me?’”

Let them know, not all who wander are lost:

“A man was parked in front of the mall waiting for his wife to get off from work. Coming his way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. ‘I hope he doesn’t ask me for money,’ the man thought. He didn’t. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn’t look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. ‘That’s a very pretty car,’ he said to the first man. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. The man said, ‘Thanks.’ The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between the two men widened, something inside the first man said, ‘Ask him if he needs any help.’ He was sure that the ‘bum’ would say ‘Yes.’ So he asked, ‘Do you need any help?’ The other man answered in three simple but profound words that the first man shall never forget. He expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand, but the ‘bum’ spoke the three words that shook the first man: ‘Don’t we all?’ Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it’s just a compliment, you can give that.”

Let them remember, finally, that when nothing goes right…go left! For that’s the way to Eagle Square!