Dr. Dobson was commenting on the pop psychology parable from the 1970s, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which subscribed to the theory of individuality and independence, as well as the refusal to follow the dictates of society.

The book itself is not important to this article, but the lesson introduced by Dr. Dobson has replayed in my head many times over. He drew a parallel to the virtues of Christian life, and how the "all about me"; attitude really flies in the face of true Christianity. Choosing a life of "seagull-ism"; could prove detrimental.

Seagulls are selfish, even to the point of killing one another in order to further themselves. A seagull alone is as wondrous as any other bird, soaring gracefully. However, the seagull becomes quite a different bird when in a group. Gulls will dive-bomb other seagulls, even kill them, just to steal a tiny morsel. Seagulls are fiercely competitive and jealous, maintaining a "look out for number one"; mentality.

This is comically illustrated in the children's movie Finding Nemo, as the seagulls each shriek "Mine! Mine! Mine!"; whenever they spot something they want.

However, according to author Philip Yancey, "If one were to tie a red ribbon around the leg of one gull, making him stand out, you sentence him to execution. The others in his flock will furiously attack him with claws and beaks, hammering through feathers and flesh to draw blood. They'll continue until he lies flattened in a bloody heap."; Morbid, I know, but you get the picture.

On a lighter note, another bird reflects something more along the lines of behavior that we should strive to model. Geese do not typically fly individually, but tend to thrive in a flock. Geese fly in a V formation because it distributes the hardship of travel. The goose at the center point of the V has a greater challenge, as it meets the greatest wind resistance in flight; therefore, this position is rotated every few minutes so that the geese can fly long distances without rest.

The easiest position is at the rear of the V. The stronger geese allow the young, weak or old birds to occupy these less arduous positions. If a goose becomes too tired or ill to continue, it is never abandoned. The bird will leave the flock, with the assistance of a healthier bird, and remain grounded until it can continue its flight.

This social order greatly contributes to the survival and well-being of their flock. The "honking"; of geese is believed to be the method of the strong encouraging the weaker birds to continue.

While I am not an authority on birds, the parallels drawn here do bring to light the logical consequences of working independently as opposed to working together toward a common goal. The seagull's selfishness is not characteristic of God's way. Instead, we are to work together, as a family, taking care of those who are weak.

We need to let our light shine to those around us by exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Nowhere among these fruits is there room for self-serving behavior (Philippians 2:3-4).

These reminders may sound simplistic, but because they typically go against our own human nature, they are sometimes very difficult to put into practice. But each time we are successful, it becomes easier to repeat.

Life's journey can, at times, seem very long and difficult. When we see someone wavering, we should offer encouragement. We should take our turn in assisting when the young, the weak or the old are no longer able to bear the most arduous tasks alone.

When we see those who could use a break, we can offer our strength to carry their burden for a while. When someone in our flock is ill, weary or downtrodden, we should stay with him until his strength is restored, and he is once again able to continue. These are all elements that enable a flock of geese—or people—to remain strong. UN