Goose Family Visits the City

This is not a picture I took but it almost could have been. I was the first car to approach a large intersection in Dayton this morning. There were five lanes in all directions and these are streets that even in the wee hours see their share of traffic. I couldn't believe that I was so blessed as to be able to see a family of Canada Geese in the crosswalk right in front of me as if a policeman had been standing on the corner telling them it was their turn to cross. Cars around me dutifully stayed their distance and probably watched in awe as I did, thinking we were witnessing something one rarely sees.

Mom (or maybe Dad Goose) led the procession. Nine goslings followed in a fairly straight line and Dad (or Mom) walked beside them all, corralling as necessary. When they were safely beyond my path, I stole a quick glance at them as I drove by to see that the babies, though almost as big as their parents still had fluffy-looking backs and were, I presume adolescents. Even though these were older babies, I would guess that they couldn't have lasted in the air long enough to have flown with their parents to wherever they were going and that walking was the best choice. But given the nature of the paved roadway they chose, I could only say a prayer that they would not get hit.

It struck me that what they were doing either took great faith or a naïveté that allowed them to walk, not run, in the midst of humanity like that. How provided for they were! In fact, due to their large group size, they were probably highly noticeable and thus somewhat protected. Still, it was a gutsy thing to do, in my opinion! It wasn't hard to feel the presence of God right there in the midst of the city streets.