43rd week: Fly in formation
We visited a wound care center this week. While he approved of the current way we are dressing the wound, the doctor said that none of it will make a big difference in terms of healing the wound because of the radiation damaged tissues. He is therefore recommending hyperbaric therapy to help the damaged tissue to repair itself from inside out. This will allow the wound and its surrounding tissue to heal, supporting whatever surgical procedure may be needed later. While there is no guarantee, I found many positive reports about the therapy’s effectiveness on the internet. It has been a crazy and blessed week. In five days, I have met a doctor who has pointed me to a therapy that might be just what I need, was cleared by my oncologist, my surgeon, and most importantly, a pulmonary specialist, plus the insurance company with the help of many (acquainted and strangers alike). Needless to say, we are very thankful to God. Regarding the chemo, no critical side-effects have developed yet. However, it has become a nuisance to deal with my hyper sensitive digestive track which gives me what seems to be random diarrhea after meals. Not being able to hold the food in all the time is particularly frustrating because I need to maintain my weight. All I can do is eat again after an unplanned restroom stop and be careful about what I eat.
Fly in formation
Migrant birds have been flying south in formation for weeks now. I would like to highlight a couple of the facts about these formations.
First, when birds fly in formation, they fly faster and farther than flying alone. While there is no precise number, the estimate is that they are capable of flying about 50% farther. (In 2004, NASA estimated that 8 airplanes flying in a formation similar to the geese’s would save up to 20% of the normally utilized fuel.) Blue geese were tracked while migrating from Canada to Louisiana. They made the 1,700 mile journey in 60 hours, averaging 30 miles per hour. A single goose can not do this. There is a psychological element in that. Company always make the long, tough journey easier. However, God also created the physics that favors flying in formation.
Birds can fly because of a specific wing shape; when the wings move in air, the air pressure under the wing is greater than the pressure above. At the tip of the wing, the air pressure difference naturally makes the air flow from below the wing and out around the tip to the top of the wing in a circular fashion. This creates the so-called wing tip vortex which stays behind as the bird moves on. If another bird places itself on top of this uplifting air flow, it reduces the workload. The birds fly in formation so that each bird takes advantage of the uplifting force from the bird in front of it. Everybody thus flies easier than if they were flying alone, all except for the leading one.
This holds up a wonderful truth for any community, and especially the church. We all need each other more than we realize or we acknowledge. We really do fly faster and farther, and we are more capable of getting to where we are headed… when we are in formation with others. We can accomplish far more together than the sum total of our individual efforts.
The other important lesson stems from the fact that the geese share leadership. I used to think when I saw geese in their formation that the leader was the strongest and the smartest one in the whole group. After all, that is the most demanding position. Wrong. Biologists now know that geese share leadership. When the lead goose gets tired, it just falls back into the wing of the formation and another goose flies up to take its place. Sharing the lead is crucial in all communities; one person just cannot provide all the leadership.
May this find you and your loved ones in good spirit and health.
