Platinum Rule or Golden Rule?
—Grace & Truth Linkup
The noise. The poop. The trampled grass.
It’s that time of year again.
The Canada geese are all here and all mating.
From my perspective on the shore, it looks and sounds quite violent on the lake outside my window. The geese honk and hiss and fight in the spring as they begin pairing up.
It doesn’t sound like fun or look like love to me.
Maybe the geese don’t know about the Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they would want done to them.”
The Platinum Rule is tweaked from the Golden Rule, which we all know is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The only problem with the Golden Rule is that sometimes we can give bad gifts when others don’t prefer what we prefer. And vice versa.
To best love each other, maybe we need to ask more questions—What do YOU desire? What feels like love to you? In what ways can I really help you?—instead of just doing what we like better.
Back in the lake, I wonder if the female goose would prefer the male goose follow the Platinum Rule instead of the Golden Rule when he practically drowns her in the name of procreation.
Irregardless, once they choose each other (actually it’s the female who makes that decision), it’s til death do them part for a goose couple. If they’re ever separated for even a short amount of time, they greet each other again with an elaborate display of honks and head rolling.
Over the next few months, I look forward to seeing baby geese on the lake.
But that will come with more loud honking as the parents fend off other geese (or humans) from coming too close to their babies. And there will be more poop in our driveway (a goose can defecate over a pound per day).
I guess this goose love works for them, whichever rules they instinctually follow.
May we find what works for us, too.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
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This post made me laugh. It does certainly merit asking what others would really want us to do for them. And the female geese must have quite a lot to bear with, but at least they get to decide on their mate–and perhaps some maturing and education takes place over the years, as it does with humans.
Once, a goose stopped off at the church I attend and decided to rest awhile before traveling on. He chose to lay on the sidewalk under the overhang right by the front door. My goodness, the goose poop! It was amazing how much one goose could produce.
I love the idea of a platinum rule, because what would make me happy seems to be a whole lot different than other’s ideas. I need to become a student of what feels like love to my people.
Wise words in that last sentence, Jerralea! I want to take that to heart too.
Lisa, your post definitely made me smile. We were at a cabin in a small mountain town a week ago and there were deer literally outside our door. They took food from my husband’s hand and allowed him to pet them. He made the comment that if he had opened to door, they might have come into the cabin. I can only imagine what that would have looked like if they panicked because they couldn’t get out fast enough. Wildlife certainly holds a fascination for us humans. But their limitations, and in your case strange behavior, should remind us that only humans are made in the image of God. And even though we are fallen and struggle with sin, His image is still there and will one day be completely restored in those who belong to Him. What an amazing grace!
I’ve never heard of the platinum rule, but it’s a stellar one to keep in mind. Makes me think of Gary Chapman’s books on love-languages! As for Canada geese, I love to watch them fly by in their informal V’s, on their way to or from a nearby pond. I also love that we’re far enough removed to escape clean-up duty!!
We lived on a lake for a year and had lots of duck and goose poop! Yes, the loving response is to consider what the other person needs.
You gave me a giggle today, Lisa! I knew geese left a lot around but I had no idea how much. At least the goslings are cute. 🙂
And the platinum rule–definitely something to remember–goose or gander.
Beautiful reminder as always, Lisa. I wonder why some people treat you badly and expect you to respect and love them. That platinum and the golden rule should be constantly remembered and lived by. Good luck on the baby geese!
Firstly, I am envious that the Canada Geese are in your area already! Spring is taking long to arrive, it seems, here. And the Canada Geese have not yet returned! God’s creations are interesting. His designs perfect even though we may not always understand why they do the things they do. 🙂
This made me chuckle. I have never had the experience of living near goose breeding areas, but I’m sure the noise and poop can be really annoying.
visiting today from G&T
Nice post. I didn’t know that geese were so amorous, we have them here but I’m not near a lake.