THE WILD GOOSE

Gary Taylor was one of the earliest BAM/tentmaking pioneers, striving in the 1980s and through the 90s to move missions toward doing what was then “tentmaking” and is now BAM/B4T.  Gary foresaw a future for doing business for transformation that is finally becoming a reality. Gary wrote a group of friends that the doctors told him today is his last full day with us. Prostate cancer, which the Master healed me of, has taken Gary.  Gary invested his life savings in working to help multiple B4Ters succeed.  He was a man before the times.  Gary was truly “All in” in the game of life… in glorifying Jesus, as most of those he worked with failed in business.  The result being that Gary sacrificed his ranch and his savings for the Kingdom and those early B4Ters.

Gary calls his blog “The Wild Goose.”  He writes on his final blog;

Celtic tradition identifies the Holy Spirit as a Wild Goose. He is the wings of a Wild God best followed by the wildest of men. I’m gray. I’m wild. Like He, I am not always predictable, rational, or safe. I believe my full life and my still maturing years of walking with God offer both heart and substance for younger lads to consider. Now with 4th stage prostate cancer, following the Wild Goose has a different pace and perspective worth reflecting on…and sharing.

It reminds me of a story about geese that many of you may be familiar with but it’s worth repeating.

In the fall when you see geese heading south for the winter flying along in the “V” formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way.  It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.  By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go through it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the power of the flock. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose takes over.   The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to maintain their speed.

There’s many lessons on leadership and team work in the example of the geese.  Gary was an example for many of us.  He took the lead, breaking resistance enabling us to fly faster and further with our own B4T efforts.   Like driving on a highway, we rarely pause to think about the people who graded and paved the road, or the toil or the sacrifices they made so that we could have a quick and safe journey.  Master  thank you for Gary.  And Gary, thank you for taking the point in the tentmaking / BAM / B4T formation.

PATRICK LAI and his family have worked in SE Asia for over 37 years. His experience in doing business with Jesus has brought him to understand the meaning of work and worship in the marketplace. He started 14 businesses in four countries, six of which are still operating. Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach businesspeople working where there are few or no Christians. Check out Patrick’s latest book, Workship, now available in paperback and e-book.