BETTER TOGETHER

Today I am thinking about the geese. A goose can fly solo but it can never reach higher potential or its full potential on its own. When geese fly in formation they use 40% less energy and can travel vast distances, as long as 2400 kilometers a day. How they accomplish that is interesting.

In a V-shaped formation, each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turn being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way they can fly for a long time. The other reason why they fly in a V formation is to keep an eye on the entire flock so that none is missing or left behind during migration. During flight, the geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed which is usually 60 – 110 km/h depending of wind conditions. You see, a goose can fly solo but it can never reach higher potential unless it flies together. They are better together.

Penguins are known to be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. The temperature may be below minus 30 degree C and the winds may be blowing at 200 km/h yet they are able to survive such conditions. How so? Simply by huddling together in a tight pack group, sometimes with as many as 6000 in a group. That way they share body heat and shelter themselves from the intense wind. At the center of the core the temperature could be as warm as 21 degree C. Alone the penguin will not survive. They are better together.

The tallest trees in the world are the Red Wood trees. They can grow as high as 106 meters and can survive as long as 2000 years. The interesting thing about the red woods, they have small roots, the biggest root about an inch in diameter. These roots don’t grow deep into the ground, just 6 to 12 feet which is a fraction of the height of the tree. Yet they are able to hold the tree up. How do they do that? By spreading its roots 100 meters outwards, entwining with roots from other red woods. Linked together, a single red wood has the strength of a forest. When the storms come, the winds are not contending against one tree but the entire forest. They are better together.

God did not mean for us to go at life solo. Like the geese, the penguin and the red woods, we are made to be better together. When we need to accomplish greater things, we fly together and we honk to encourage each other. When situations in life get harsher, we huddle together, drawing the warmth of God’s love from each other. When the storms of life come against us, we entwined with each other and become the strength of a forest. We are better together.

You may be thinking you can go at life solo, that you don’t need help or anyone alongside. Maybe because you think you are talented enough and you have the resource. While that may be true to accomplish what you think, it is not enough to accomplish what God thinks. God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and God's ways are higher than our ways. Flying solo you can never reach higher potential. We are better together.

More than thirty times in the Bible, the phrase “one another” was recorded. We were told to love one another, forgive one another, help one another, encourage one another, admonish one another, teach one another. In order to accomplish that, the body of believers need to assemble together. Hebrews 10:25 admonishes us to not forsake assembling together. Jesus said whenever two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in the house. He promised us His covering whenever we assembly together. Jesus promised even the gates of hell cannot prevail against it when we are together. We will be able to do more individually and collectively when we go at life together. We need to fly together. We heed to huddle together. We need to link together. We are better together.

What joy to see us assembling together every Sunday. Understand this: God is never in the building. But when we, the body of believers assemble together, the building becomes the house of God. How so? You are the temple of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of God dwells within you. When you come into Vineyard, you bring along the presence of God. When you mix your praise with the praises of others, God's presence is released. God’s joy is released. Healing is released and the love of God is shed abroad the hearts of all those present. That's the power of the Kingdom of God, the new wine that Jesus spoke about. Jesus came not just to save but to build His church which is a collection of a called out group of people. Church is God's gifts to us. Vineyard is our gift from God. Parents, the best gift you can give to your children is to raise them in the house of God!

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:24-25).

Make church your priority. Let's fly and honk together. Let's huddle together and let's entwined into each other. It is when we are together, we are stronger and better. That's God's design. Happy New Year :)