Rooted in Love

While we were in Minnesota, I was captivated by the birds that would land on the river. Geese flew in every day. Sometimes they would land on the water, rest for a bit, and then take off again. Other times, they would sit in the river and float along with the current. Sometimes they would go against the current and paddle upstream. There were adult geese as well as goslings.

One morning, I noticed the geese hunkered down in the river. They were nestled and napping in what appeared to be a shallow area. They could stand up or sit in the water without having to work to stay put. I didn’t think too much about it as I moved on with my day.

Later, we had finished lunch and were at the table playing a game. I noticed that the geese were still in the same spot they had been in that morning. Some standing, some sitting, but all of them content to remain.

It made me curious whether it is common for geese to remain in the same spot for hours on end. I did a quick Google search and discovered that, yes, geese can be found sitting in the water or on land for long periods to rest and digest their food.

I continued to notice the geese and saw that the only time they moved from their spot was when a kayak came down the river. They would drift away to stay safe and then make their way back to the shallow area. Once the water calmed, they would settle back into their leisurely day.

I found myself admiring their ability to rest so intentionally. They were definitely not worried about whether they were getting enough done. Every now and then, one of them would grab something to eat out of the river or stand and preen their feathers, but all of it was unhurried. It was as if they knew these hours in the river were how they would have strength for the next leg of the journey.

During my quick Google search, I discovered that geese tend to rest on the water to avoid predators. One bird in the bunch will stand as sentry to alert the others if there is trouble, and as the day goes on, this job shifts between the birds in the gaggle.

All of this got me thinking about the type of community these birds have. They travel together. They rest together. They take turns as sentry to protect each other from any harm that may come. They eat together. They stick together year after year. They know each other.

Isn’t that what most of us want - a group of people that know us well, look out for us, love us, and stick together through the highs and lows?

This type of community requires some effort on our part. It requires being in proximity to other people. It requires vulnerability. It requires trust. It requires nuance. It requires love.

For any type of community to succeed, it must be rooted in love.

Love is the anchor point. It is the thing that keeps us steady and allows us to see each other through the lens of Jesus. Love helps to soften our edges and invites us to live with more compassion, more generosity, and more hope.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul gives us clear, though deeply complex, language regarding love - 

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices when the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

There is no surer way to make known our discipleship to Jesus than to love one another. And no better place to practice than in all our varied communities.

May love continually be our anchor and our guide. 
 

~  Melissa